ATTORNEY-GENERAL

Departmental Contracts

John Denham: To ask the Attorney-General what the annual value is of the Law Officers Department’s current contracts in each sector in which contracts are held.

Edward Garnier: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has contracts and framework agreements in place across all major sectors of expenditure in respect of goods and services. It is estimated that over 90% of the Department's expenditure on goods and services is committed via these agreements. The remaining expenditure is made through ad hoc contracts and purchases made via high street and online retailers.
	The total expenditure in each sector during 2010-11 was:
	
		
			  £ 
			 ICT 62,006,621 
			 Facilities management 15,586,486 
			 Post and courier 5,755,393 
			 Interpreters, transcriptions and translations 5,366,615 
			 Reprographics and printing 4,476,972 
			 Professional services 3,693,460 
			 Travel, hotels and conference hire 3,256,913 
			 Stationery 3,009,632 
			 Publications and subscriptions 2,746,963 
			 Training 2,008,392 
			 Utilities 1,748,629 
			 Case presentational equipment 1,736,614 
			 Agency staff 1,714,121 
			 File storage 1,173,088 
			 Non-capital equipment 532,329 
			 Publicity and media 262,746 
			 Confiscation expenses 233,887 
			 Recruitment services 150,347 
		
	
	The value of the Treasury Solicitor's Department (TSol) expenditure by major category is disclosed each year in HM Procurator General and Treasury Solicitor Resource Accounts. These figures also include expenditure by the Attorney-General's Office and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate. The Department's best estimate is that 85-90% of its expenditure is under contract.
	The departmental administration expenditure figures for 2010-11 are shown at page 60 in the 2010-11 Resource Accounts HC 967 a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. The main items, excluding property leases, are:
	
		
			 Sector Expenditure (£000) 
			 Accommodation 2,027 
			 Library information services 1.545 
			 Rates 1,407 
			 IT maintenance and consumables 1.068 
			 Professional programme and technical services 794 
			 Training 547 
			 Communications 461 
			 Travel and subsistence 388 
			 Accommodation maintenance 388 
			 Records management 294 
			 Utilities and cleaning 268 
			 Publications 258 
			 Postal services 254 
			 Recruitment 228 
			 Stationery 223 
			 Office machines and consumables 212 
			 Subscription fees 110 
			 Shared Service feasibility 142 
			 IT network services 124 
			 External HR services 119 
			 Welfare supplies and consumables 114 
			 Translation costs 114 
			 Internal Audit 88 
		
	
	Additionally TSol makes payments of disbursements, including counsel fees, under contract. The Statement of Comprehensive Net Expenditure (page 48 of 2010-11 Resource Accounts) shows 2010-11 disbursement costs as £32.2 million. Disbursement costs incurred on behalf of clients are recovered from clients.
	The Serious Fraud Office has framework agreements and contracts in place for all major sectors of expenditure in respect of goods and services. Over 90% of expenditure is committed via these contracts. The remaining expenditure is made via ad hoc contracts and one-off ‘spot’ purchases via high street and online retailers at all times seeking to deliver the best value of money. The total expenditure by the Serious Fraud Office in each sector during 2010-11 is outlined in the following table:
	
		
			 Sector Expenditure (£) 
			 ICT 4,838,047 
			 Facilities management 4,997,496 
			 Post and courier 129,212 
			 Interpreters, translations and transcriptions 292,851 
			 Reprographics and printing 69,296 
			 Professional services 252,632 
			 Travel, hotels and conference hire 484,542 
			 Stationery 100,238 
			 Publications and subscriptions 92,123 
			 Training 221,268 
			 Utilities 227,932 
			 Agency staff 3,706,797 
			 File storage 165,922 
			 Publicity and media 28,275 
			 Recruitment 14,778

SCOTLAND

Departmental Responsibilities

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many meetings he has had with hon. Members of each political party since May 2010.

Michael Moore: I have met many hon. Members from a range of political parties since May 2010 in my role as Secretary of State for Scotland. The information provided only relates to formal meetings with MPs and does not include the regular informal discussions I have with hon. Members from all political parties:
	
		
			  Number 
			 Conservative 6 
			 Liberal Democrat 8 
			 Labour 16 
			 SNP 3

Departmental Responsibilities

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider keeping data on the number of times (a) he and (b) officials of his Department have declined a request for a meeting from an hon. Member of each political party.

Michael Moore: I regularly meet hon. Members from a range of political parties both formally and informally. The Scotland Office does not keep a record of declined meetings and has no plans to do so.

WALES

Departmental Lost Property

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what property has been (a) lost and (b) stolen from her Department in the last 12 months; and what the cost of replacement was.

David Jones: Nil.

TREASURY

Commodity Markets

William Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the (a) costs and (b) benefits to the financial services sector of (i) exchange trading of commodity derivatives and (ii) position limits for non-commercial participants in commodity derivatives markets.

Mark Hoban: The Government have no plans to assess costs and benefits to the financial services sector of exchange trading of commodities. However the Government believe that trading in commodities markets plays an important role in providing liquidity (the volume of trades being made in a market) in these markets and that liquidity is essential to the effective functioning of these markets. Against the backdrop of climate change, and the possibility that international agricultural prices may become more volatile over time, the role of agricultural futures and options markets, and the liquidity they rely on, become more important.
	The recent advice given by the Committee of European Securities Regulators (now European Securities and Markets Authority) to the European Commission in October 2010 provides a thorough assessment of the costs and benefits of position limits as part of the regulatory framework for commodity derivatives. This advice can be found here:
	http://www.esma.europa.eu/index.php?page=document_ details&from_title=Documents&id=7279
	(Section IV, Question 12)
	Consistent with this advice, the Government believe that the authority to set position limits would appropriately be a part of a position management regime, though not the leading element. Position limits by their nature are inflexible tools, and the Government are sceptical that such measures would be effective in reducing the presence of a particular participant type in the market, or would be an effective tool to address price volatility.

Corporation Tax: Scotland

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment his Department has made of the potential effects of devolving powers relating to the setting of rates of corporation tax on the allocation of funding to the Scottish Parliament through the block grant.

Ann McKechin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will (a) estimate and (b) set out the methodology for estimating the effect on the revenue of the Scottish Executive of introducing a corporation tax rate in Scotland matching the rate in the Republic of Ireland.

David Gauke: A copy of this analysis has been deposited in the Library of the House.

Corporation Tax: Scotland

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the underlying figures and calculations on corporation tax raised in Scotland referred to in the press release issued by the Secretary of State for Scotland on 23 June 2011.

David Gauke: I have written to the hon. Gentleman with the information requested. A copy has also been deposited in the Library of the House.

Economic Situation: Belgium

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department’s policies of the risk of a downgrading of the credit rating of bonds issued by the (a) private and (b) public sector in Belgium.

Mark Hoban: It is not for the Government to speculate on what the credit ratings agencies may or may not do. The UK authorities are keeping the situation in the euro area under close review, including its potential impact on UK institutions and financial stability. Contingency planning is in place for a wide variety of outcomes.

Economic Situation: Republic of Ireland

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the potential effects of the downgrading of Ireland's credit rating on (a) UK GDP, (b) the UK manufacturing industry and (c) agriculture in the UK.

Danny Alexander: The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is responsible for producing independent economic and fiscal forecasts. The OBR made a full assessment of UK economic prospects in their “Economic and Fiscal Outlook”, published alongside Budget 2011, which can be found online at:
	http://budgetresponsbility.independent.gov.uk
	The autumn Economic and Fiscal Outlook will provide an updated assessment that reflects relevant developments, including in Ireland.

Financial Services: Taxation

Matthew Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the level of tax receipts from financial services institutions in 2011-12; and how much tax revenue was received from such institutions in each year since 1997.

David Gauke: The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) published a forecast for corporation tax receipts from financial companies alongside their March 2011 economic and fiscal outlook. These figures are in table 2.5 of the fiscal supplementary tables, available on the internet at:
	http://86.54.44.148/wordpress/docs/obr_fiscal_supplementary_tables1.xls
	The OBR published their first fiscal sustainability report on 13 July. This report additionally includes a projection of PAYE receipts for the financial sector for 2011-12 and up to 2015-16. However, the PAYE projection is a stylised extrapolation rather than a formal forecast. This information is available in the spreadsheet containing the data for the main charts and tables from the report, available at the following link, at box 4.1 (chart B). The figures for PAYE receipts are on a national accounts basis. A formal PAYE forecast for the financial sector is not produced.
	http://budgetresponsibility.independent.gov.uk/pubs/July-2011-FSR-main-report-charts-and-tables.xls
	No such forecast or projection is available for any other taxes.
	For past years, HM Revenue and Customs has produced a breakdown by broad industrial sector for corporation tax, PAYE income tax and class 1 national insurance contributions (NICs) and value added tax (VAT).
	National Statistics for corporation tax receipts paid by several broadly-defined business sectors can be found in table 11.1 on the HMRC National Statistics website available at the following internet address. This table includes a sectoral breakdown of receipts for financial years from 2000-01. The sectors are defined by HMRC’s summary trade classifications. There are some slight methodological differences between these figures and those published by the OBR, which mean that they are not fully comparable.
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/corporate_tax/table11_1.pdf
	Total PAYE income tax and class 1 NICs received by HMRC in respect of employee and employer liabilities combined are shown, split by sector in the accompanying table back to 1999-2000. These figures are for financial years (amounts received by HMRC between April and March). This differs slightly to the national accounts basis underlying the PAYE figures published by the OBR and referred to above (amounts received by HMRC between May and April).
	The sectors are defined by the Office for National Statistics’ Standard Industrial Classification 2003.
	
		
			 Total receipts for PAYE income tax and class 1 NICs in respect of employee and employer liabilities combined from financial intermediation, 1999-2000 to 2010-11 
			  Receipts (£ billion) 
			 1999-2000 11.9 
			 2000-01 15.5 
			 2001-02 15.1 
			 2002-03 15.5 
			 2003-04 17.0 
			 2004-05 18.7 
			 2005-06 20.7 
			 2006-07 24.1 
			 2007-08 26.2 
			 2008-09 23.7 
			 2009-10 23.2 
			 2010-11 26.6 
		
	
	Declared VAT is published by trade group in table 23 of HMRC’s latest VAT factsheet. This can be accessed at the following location on the internet and provides estimates back to 2004.
	https://www.uktradeinfo.com/index.cfm?task=factvat
	Archived factsheets provide figures for earlier years, available at:
	https://www.uktradeinfo.com/index.cfm?task= factarchive&factcategory=8

National Insurance Contributions

David Hanson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  whether he has any plans to review the availability of the national insurance holiday scheme to regions not currently within the scheme;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 29 June 2011, Official Report, columns 817-18, on national insurance contributions, what steps he is taking to increase take-up of the national insurance holiday scheme.

David Gauke: holding answer 18 July 2011
	The information is as follows:
	(1) The Government have considered the case for extending the NICs holiday to regions not currently within the scheme. We believe, however, that the best use of public funds is to target the NICs holiday at supporting new businesses in their first year, reducing the cost of hiring staff and improving the likelihood of business survival.
	(2) From the date of the announcement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), new employers calling HMRC’s new employer helpline have heard a recorded message about the holiday. From 6 September 2010, all new employers registering for a PAYE scheme with HMRC have received a flyer promoting the scheme, directing them to the Business Link site which has promoted the holiday and provided guidance in support of the application process from the outset. This guidance was updated in May 2011 to widen the scope of those entitled to apply for the holiday to include authorised agents.
	In addition, HMRC has been working with employer representatives to raise the profile of the scheme and is exploring further opportunities to promote it wherever possible.

National Insurance Contributions

David Hanson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many applications for the national insurance holiday scheme had been (a) received and (b) approved in each region as at 30 June 2011.

David Gauke: holding answer 18 July 2011
	Up to 30 June 2011, HMRC had received (a) 4,919 successful and (b)158 unsuccessful applications for the NICs holiday from new businesses. The regional breakdown is as follows:
	
		
			  Successful Unsuccessful 
			 Northern Ireland 211 11 
			 Scotland 696 14 
			 Wales 293 12 
			 East Midlands 475 11 
			 North East 319 15 
			 North West 896 27 
			 South West 810 24 
			 West Midlands 596 25 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 623 19 
			 Total 4,919 158

Private Finance Initiative

Stella Creasy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he plans to review the guidance issued on the calculation of the value of estimated tax receipts for all public sector economic assessments of all private finance initiative projects.

Danny Alexander: holding answer 19 July 2011
	The existing guidance on how to evaluate taxation differences which arise when considering the use of the private finance initiative (PFI) is available as supplementary guidance to the Green Book at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/data_greenbook_supguidance.htm
	The guidance outlines how to estimate the differential tax rate, which is used to uplift the Public Sector Comparator cost used in Value for Money assessments to ensure the decision is taken net of tax take.
	We will continue to use this method when considering differential tax take in the value for money assessment for projects involving private finance.

Public Sector: Pensions

Katy Clark: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department has assessed the potential effect of implementation of the proposals contained in the Independent Public Service Pensions Commission's Final Report on the average life expectancy of (a) teachers, (b) NHS workers, (c) local government workers and (d) civil servants.

Danny Alexander: The Independent Public Service Pensions Commission found that in the context of uncertain and increasing longevity current scheme designs are not sufficiently robust to ensure the sustainability of public service pensions. The package of reforms recommended by the Commission is a balanced deal that will deliver fair outcomes for public service workers and for taxpayers and build trust and confidence in the system.
	HM Treasury does not make estimates of life expectancy, but instead uses figures produced by the Office for National Statistics. The latest life expectancy data are available on the ONS webpage at:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=15098&Pos=1&ColRank=1&Rank=272

Public Sector: Pensions

Matthew Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost to the public purse was of public sector pensions in each year since 1997.

Danny Alexander: Expenditure on unfunded central and local government pensions since 1997 has been published in the Public Expenditure Statistical Analysis. This covers expenditure in the central unfunded public service schemes, but not the locally administered police and firefighters' pension schemes or the funded Local Government Pension Scheme. This information is shown in nominal terms in the following table:
	
		
			  Expenditure (£ million) 
			 2001 14,773 
			 2002 16,518 
			 2003 16,080 
			 2004 16,377 
			 2005 17,641 
			 2006 19,080 
			 2007 21,356 
			 2008 22,525 
			 2009 24,350 
			 2010 25,875 
		
	
	PESA.2011 is available online at the following address:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/pespub_pesa_July11_natstats.htm
	Estimates of expenditure on a national accounts basis are also published by the Office for National Statistics in the Blue Book and by the Office for Budget Responsibility in the Economic and Fiscal Outlook.
	Employer contributions paid into for the funded Local Government Pension Scheme in England since 1999 are presented in chapter 7 of the Local Government Financial Statistics England 2010. These are shown in nominal terms in the following table and the full document is available online at the following address:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/statistics/financialstatistics202010
	
		
			  Employer contributions (£ million) 
			 1999-2000 2,273 
			 2000-01 2,617 
			 2001-02 2,916 
			 2002-03 3,217 
			 2003-04 3,544 
			 2004-05 4,124 
			 2005-06 4,626 
			 2006-07 5,009 
			 2007-08 5,400 
			 2008-09 5,759

Revenue and Customs: Technology

David Hanson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much HM Revenue and Customs has spent on freight detection technology in each year since 2007.

Damian Green: I have been asked to reply.
	During the period, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and UK Border Agency (UKBA) spent the following amounts on the purchase of high energy cargo scanning systems:
	
		
			  £ 
			 2007-08 992,375 
			 2008-09 408,625 
			 2009-10 8,007,500 
			 2010-11 0 
			 Total 9,408,500

State Retirement Pensions: Females

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on transitional arrangements for women born in 1953 and 1954 when implementing a new statutory retirement age; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Hoban: The Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), regularly discusses a range of social security and employment related matters with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Mr Duncan Smith).

EDUCATION

Children and Families Ministerial Taskforce

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what work has been undertaken by the Childhood and Families Taskforce to date; and what meetings the Taskforce has convened since it was established;
	(2)  who the (a) members of and (b) contributors to the Childhood and Families Taskforce are.

Sarah Teather: The Prime Minister set up the Childhood and Families Task Force to ensure policies across different departments come together to tackle some of the major obstacles to a happy childhood and a successful family life.
	The Childhood and Families Task Force is chaired by the Prime Minister and comprises: the Deputy Prime Minister; the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Mr Duncan Smith); the Minister of State, Department for Education, my hon. Friend the Member for Brent Central (Sarah Teather); the Minister for Universities and Science (Mr Willetts); the Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Justine Greening); and the Under-Secretary of State for Health, my hon. Friend the Member for Guildford (Anne Milton).
	Since the Childhood and Families Task Force was established, there have been regular ministerial meetings and it has overseen a range of activities led by the Departments that are members of the group, including: Reg Bailey's review of the commercialisation and sexualisation of children; the hon. Member for Nottingham North (Mr Allen)’s review of early intervention; the modern workplaces consultation; the £30 million dedicated fund for relationship support; the Family Justice Review; and action to meet the ambition to turn around the lives of families with multiple problems.

Children in Care

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education who is legally responsible for the actions of children taken into care and placed with foster parents; and if he will make a statement.

Tim Loughton: holding answer 14 July 2011
	Legal responsibility for the actions of a child placed with foster carers will depend on the legal status of the child and what the actions concerned are. A child above the age of criminal responsibility could be legally responsible for his or her criminal actions. Broadly speaking the child's foster carer is responsible for the child's day-to-day behaviour by, for example, ensuring that they go to school.
	In the case of a voluntarily accommodated child the parent(s) will have parental responsibility. If the child is subject to a care order the local authority will also have parental responsibility.
	As corporate parents, we expect local authorities to act as the best possible parent for each child they look after and to advocate on his or her behalf to secure the best possible outcomes. The child's social worker will maintain regular contact with the child and carer to ensure that the child is being appropriately supported.

Children in Care: Adoption

Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he plans to take to increase the likelihood of children in care being adopted into stable families.

Tim Loughton: holding answer 19 July 2011
	I am determined to see more children in care adopted, where this is in their best interests and the best possible support given to adoptive families to help ensure the success and permanence of adoptions. I want to see more children considered for adoption who in the past may have been overlooked—children who are older or have disabilities or very complex needs. I particularly want local authorities to consider carefully their matching and placement practice in respect of black and minority ethnic children who often wait much longer than others.
	That is why I have recently appointed Martin Narey, former chief executive of Barnardo's, as Ministerial Adviser on Adoption. He will visit individual local authorities to identify and share good practice, and challenge poorer practices, especially for those children who are often overlooked for adoption—older children, disabled children—or who can face significant delay, such as black children. I have published his full remit on the Department for Education website:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/childrenandyoungpeople/families/adoption/a00192226/martin-narey-appointed-as-ministerial-adviser-on-adoption
	I set up last year a ministerial advisory group on adoption to help steer my wider programme of reform. In November I wrote to directors of children's services and lead members emphasising the importance of adoption and of reducing delays in the adoption process. I subsequently published revised statutory adoption guidance, and an Adoption Data Pack which highlights the variations between local authorities. I have also hosted a number of roundtable events with adoptive parents, adopted children, judges, directors of children's services and adoption panels to take their views about where change is needed.
	The Department also provides grant funding to the British Association for Adoption and Fostering to promote adoption, including through National Adoption Week and National Exchange Days, and to the Coram Foundation and Barnardo's to support local authorities in improving their adoption outcomes. I have also approved funding to extend the Multi-dimensional Treatment Foster Care programme (an evidence-based intervention programme for children in care) to adopted children and families.
	All of this is within the wider context of the work the Government are undertaking to improve outcomes for vulnerable children and families. This includes action following the Munro Review of Child Protection and the work of the Family Justice Review.

Conditions of Employment

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many meetings officials of his Department have had with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on the Government's employment law review since May 2011.

Nick Gibb: The review of employment-related laws being co-ordinated by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) is a cross-Government initiative.
	All Departments with an interest or responsibility for employment-related law are engaged in the process, and relevant officials are in contact with BIS on a regular basis in taking forward the review.

CSE

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what proportion of pupils (a) entered for and (b) passed each CSE subject in each year since 1981.

Nick Gibb: The information requested is not available.

Apprentices

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether his Department has a policy on requirements for the provision of (a) apprenticeships and (b) other training by (i) his Department’s prime contractors and (ii) suppliers in the supply chain of such contractors.

Tim Loughton: It is the Department’s policy to include a condition in any appropriate contract that contractors employ apprentices during the delivery of that contract. There is no similar obligation on suppliers in the supply chain.
	Contractors are encouraged to provide relevant skills training to their staff.

Departmental Buildings

Jesse Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the address is of each office property occupied by his Department outside Greater London which it (a) owns and (b) rents; what the level of utilisation is of each such property; what the capital value is of each such property it owns; and what the (i) annual rental cost and (ii) length of lease agreement is of each rented property.

Tim Loughton: The Department for Education occupies three office properties outside of Greater London, the details of which are listed in the following table:
	
		
			 Property name Address Value (£) 
			 Castle View House East Lane, Runcorn, WA7 2DB 7,500,000 
			 Mowden Hall Staindrop Road, Darlington, DL3 9BG 2,835,000 
			 2 St Paul's Place 125 Norfolk Street, Sheffield, S1 2FL 22,390,000 
		
	
	The Mowden Hall site in Darlington and the Castle View House site in Runcorn are freehold properties owned by the Department. The St Paul's Place building in Sheffield is also owned by the Department, but the ground lease is not and the Department pays a ‘peppercorn' rent, which runs until September 2259. Both the Mowden Hall site and the St Paul's Place facility are fully occupied. The Castle View House site is currently 73% utilised with the remaining space being actively marketed to the public and private sector both commercially and through the Government Property Unit.

Departmental Carbon Emissions

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the carbon dioxide emissions from his Department in (a) June 2010 and (b) June 2011.

Tim Loughton: The Department for Education’s carbon emission were as follows:
	(a) In June 2010, the Department emitted 694 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
	(b) In June 2011, the Department emitted 576 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
	These data comprise energy use from the Department’s four headquarter buildings and business travel data. Travel data for June 2011 have been estimated based on 2010 emission levels.
	The Department has exceeded the Prime Minister’s target of reducing carbon emissions by 10%, achieving a reduction of 21.5%, and is now focused on Government’s further agenda to reduce carbon emissions by 25% by 2015.

Departmental Carbon Emissions

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 4 July 2011, Official Report, column 978W, on departmental carbon emissions, whether the sources of low-carbon energy generation on its estate were manufactured in the UK.

Tim Loughton: On 4 July 2011 the Department confirmed the installation of solar panels at its Sheffield site. The specification, procurement and installation of the panels were undertaken as part of the pre-tenancy ‘fit-out’ work, managed by a third party contractor, prior to the occupation of the building by the Department. As a result, the Department does not hold the information requested.

Departmental e-mail

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what guidance he has issued to officials of his Department on the use of e-mail accounts not supported by his Government's IT system to communicate with (a) schools considering academy status and (b) individuals, groups, charities, businesses and other bodies applying to establish free schools.

Tim Loughton: holding answer 19 July 2011
	The guidance issued to staff in the Department for Education on the use of personal, non-DFE e-mail accounts for communications relating to their official duties (irrespective of the individual or organisation being communicated with) is as follows:
	‘Never use non-DfE email services (such as your own personal internet email account on Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo Mail, AOL, MobileMe, etc.) to carry out Departmental business.'
	A more detailed extract from this guidance for DFE staff, covering the salient points, is as follows:
	Annex
	Essential steps to protect information in DFE
	Use only official DFE ICT systems, services and devices to access or store DFE information
	Official DFE ICT (Information and Communications Technology), computing and telephony services, systems and devices, have been configured, risk assessed, and tested to ensure they are secure enough for Departmental business. Official DFE mobile devices (Laptops and BlackBerry's) have HM Government approved strong encryption enabled.
	You should therefore:
	Never use non-DFE devices (such as your own laptop, PC, Mac, PDA or memory stick) to access or store DFE Information.
	Never use non-DFE e-mail services (such as your own personal internet e-mail account on Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo Mail, AOL, MobileMe, etc.) to carry out departmental business.
	Never set your ‘Out of Office' message or e-mail forwarding rules to direct official e-mail to your personal internet e-mail account.
	If you have a compelling requirement to conduct DFE business when away from the office, but do not already have the appropriate DFE remote working tools to support this, talk to your line manager about making the business case.
	Why is this so important?
	The loss or compromise of personal or otherwise sensitive information that has not been adequately protected can have serious consequences including:
	Financial loss, disruption to the work of the Department, or distress to citizens or staff;
	Damage to DFE's reputation which could in turn lead to loss of public confidence in the services of our Department or of Government as a whole;
	Breach of the Data Protection Act, which could lead to public censure of the Department by the Information Commissioner, whose statutory powers also include the right to impose fines on the Department of up to £500,000.
	Use of unapproved ICT systems, services and devices could also put in jeopardy the Department's continued right to use the Government Secure Intranet (GSI) which we rely on for secure intra-government e-mail and data sharing.
	As well as breaching security rules the use of unapproved ICT systems, services and devices to conduct Government business also creates Information Management issues. For example: information not held on DFE ICT systems would not be searched when responding to a Freedom of Information (FOI) Request.

Departmental Lost Property

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what property has been (a) lost and (b) stolen from his Department in the last 12 months; and what the cost of replacement was.

Tim Loughton: A breakdown of reported lost or stolen property from the Department for Education in the last 12 month period 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2011 is as follows:
	
		
			  Lost (a) Stolen (b) Total Total estimated cost of replacement (£) 
			 Laptops  4 4 4,008.00 
			 BlackBerry 10 4 14 2,870.00 
			 Mobile phone 3  3 255.00 
			 Memory stick 5  5 820.00 
			 Signify token 3  3 148.50 
			 Projector  1 1 (1)0 
			 Headset 1  1 (1)0 
			 Staff passes — — 94 485.98 
			 (1) Not replaced

Departmental Procurement

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many procurement contracts his Department has awarded to small businesses since May 2010.

Tim Loughton: The information on how many procurement contracts were awarded by the Department for Education to small and medium-sized enterprises since May 2010 could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, I can tell my hon. Friend that under the transparency agenda, since January 2011, the Department for Education has reported 43 separate contracts awarded, 27 of which were to small and medium-sized enterprises.

Departmental Procurement

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of procurement contracts offered by his Department have been advertised on the Contracts Finder website since the website's inception.

Tim Loughton: The Department does not maintain a central record of those contracts that have not been advertised, for example contracts that have been let following a call off from a framework agreement. To include those contracts in the calculation of the proportion of contracts advertised on Contracts Finder could be done only at disproportionate costs.
	However, of the 23 contracts that have been advertised since 1 January 2011, 11 or 48% have been advertised on Contracts Finder.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what discussions he has had with the Access to Education Advocate on (a) the abolition of the education maintenance allowance (EMA) and (b) the new 16 to 19 Bursary Fund; and whether any such discussions took place prior to the announcement of the abolition of the EMA.

Nick Gibb: Between the date of his appointment, in December 2010, and the announcement of the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund in March 2011, the Advocate for Access to Education met regularly Department for Education officials and Ministers to discuss financial support for young people. We took account of his work in designing the new 16 to 19 Bursary Fund, which schools and colleges will be able to use to support those students who most need financial assistance to continue in education or training post-16.

Equality Act 2010

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he plans to take to enable schools to meet their obligations under the Equality Act 2010.

Sarah Teather: The Equality Act 2010 simplifies and consolidates the protections and duties which existed under previous equality legislation. Where the law has changed or protection has been extended to cover new protected groups, schools that were already complying with previous equality legislation and with education law more broadly should not experience any significant difference or difficulty with what they now need to do to comply.
	To help schools meet their obligations under the Act, the Department for Education has produced web-based advice which explains what the law requires and provides examples of action that could constitute unlawful discrimination. This advice will be updated shortly to include an explanation of what the new public sector equality specific duties will mean for schools once they come into force.
	The Department is also working with the education sector, including teaching unions, to ensure that schools have available to them resources and case studies giving them a framework of examples of what they may do to comply.

Early Years Provision

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what timetable he has set for the review of the code of practice for local authorities on delivery of free early years provision for children aged three and four;
	(2)  what criteria he plans to use in undertaking the review of the code of practice for local authorities on delivery of free early years provision for children aged three and four.

Sarah Teather: We will be consulting in the autumn on streamlining the code of practice for local authorities on delivery of free early years provision for three and four-year-olds. The aim of the review will be to ensure that the code is clearly understood by local authorities enabling them to set out a clear offer to parents and their children and to providers; does all it can to promote children's access to their entitlement; and reduces national prescription and so helps to free up local authorities (and in turn providers) from unnecessary and often burdensome red tape.
	The consultation will be published on the Department's website and will run for 12 weeks. The consultation will conform to the seven criteria set out in the Government's Code of Practice on Consultation which can be found on the Department's website at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/consultations
	The intention is that revised statutory guidance will come into force in September 2012. It will follow the Department's new approach to advice and guidance which is explained on the website:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/aboutdfe/advice

Further Education: Access

Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what discussions (a) he, (b) other Ministers in his Department and (c) staff in his Department have had with the Access to Education Advocate on further education for those aged 16 to 19 years.

Nick Gibb: The right hon. Member for Bermondsey and Old Southwark (Simon Hughes) was appointed as Advocate for Access to Education to work with the Government to ensure that their goal of increasing participation in higher education by those from the most disadvantaged backgrounds is met. During the course of his work, he has met Department for Education Ministers and officials to discuss matters relating to further education for those aged 16 to 19 years.

Further Education: Finance

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much has been allocated for 16 to 19 bursaries in each local authority area for 2011-12.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 18 July  2011 
	This is a matter for the Young People's Learning Agency (YPLA) who operate the Education Maintenance Allowance for the Department for Education. Peter Lauener, the YPLA's chief executive, has written to the hon. Member for Westminster North (Ms Buck) with the information requested and a copy of his reply has been placed in the House Libraries.
	Letter from Peter Lauener, dated 18 July 2011
	I am writing in response to your Parliamentary Questions PQ66836 and PQ66837 that ask:
	“How much has been allocated for the education maintenance allowance replacement bursaries in each local authority area for 2011-12.” PQ66836
	“How much has been allocated from the education maintenance allowance replacement bursary fund to each school and college in London for 2011-12.” PQ66837
	We are still finalising the bursary allocations for the academic year 2011/12 for individual schools, colleges and other education and training providers and we are therefore not yet able to provide the information you have requested. We intend to publish the bursary allocations shortly and I will write to you with the details asked for as soon as possible.

Further Education: Transport

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to review local authority transport statements for young people aged 16 to 18 years for 2011-12.

Tim Loughton: holding answer 18 July 2011
	Legislation requires local authorities to publish a transport policy statement by the end of May each year. The statement should set out the arrangements that the local authority will make in the following academic year to help students of sixth-form age access education and training. The Department for Education is in the process of establishing whether all local authorities have published their 2011 transport statements.

GCE A-level

Elizabeth Truss: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what proportion of pupils in (a) comprehensive schools, (b) selective schools, (c) modern schools, (d) independent schools, (e) sixth form colleges, (f) other further education sector colleges and (g) in total gained grades (i) A*, (ii) A, (iii) B, (iv) C, (v) D, (vi) E and (vii) U for A-levels in (A) mathematics, (B) further mathematics, (C) English, (D) physics, (E) chemistry, (F) biology, (G) geography, (H) history, (I) a classical language and (J) a modern language in the most recent academic year for which figures are available.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 11 July 2011
	The requested information has been placed in the House Libraries.

GCE A-level

Elizabeth Truss: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  how many and what proportion of pupils in (a) comprehensive schools, (b) selective schools, (c) modern schools, (d) independent schools, (e) sixth form colleges, (f) other further education sector colleges and (g) in total gained at least three A-levels at grade AAB or above of which two or more were from the following subjects (i) mathematics, (ii) further mathematics, (iii) English, (iv) physics, (v) chemistry, (vi) biology, (vii) geography, (viii) history, (ix) a classical language and (x) a modern language in the most recent academic year for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many and what proportion of pupils in (a) comprehensive schools, (b) selective schools, (c) modern schools, (d) independent schools, (e) sixth form colleges, (f) other further education sector colleges and (g) in total gained at least three A-levels at grade AAB or above from the following combination (i) mathematics, (ii) further mathematics, (iii) English, (iv) physics, (v) chemistry, (vi) biology, (vii) geography, (viii) history, (ix) a classical language and (x) a modern language in the most recent academic year for which figures are available.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 11 July 2011
	The requested information for 2010 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 School type Number of students taking GCE A levels Number of students who gained at least three GCE A levels at grade AAB or above Number of students who gained at least three GCE A levels at grade AAB or above of which two or more were from the subjects listed above Number of students who gained at least three GCE A levels at grade AAB or above from the subjects listed above Percentage of students who gained at least three GCE A levels at grade AAB or above Percentage of students who gained at least three GCE A levels at grade AAB or above of which two or more were from the subjects listed above Percentage of students who gained at least three GCE A levels at grade AAB or above from the subjects listed above 
			 Comprehensive schools 124,846 15,336 11,712 7,010 12 9 6 
			 Selective schools 22,006 7,720 6,336 4,017 35 29 18 
			 Modern schools 4,057 124 79 45 3 2 1 
		
	
	
		
			 Other maintained schools 873 55 42 25 6 5 3 
			 Independent schools 35,245 14,511 11,829 6,901 41 34 20 
			 Sixth form colleges 52,641 7,163 4,755 2,627 14 9 5 
			 Other further education sector colleges 27,677 2,042 1,301 712 7 5 3 
			 Total (England) 267,345 46,951 36,054 21,337 18 13 8 
			 Notes: 1. Students get counted once (at their highest grade) if they have been entered for more than one A level in any subject category. 2. The figures in this answer are derived from data collected for the Performance tables.

GCE O-level

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what proportion of pupils (a) entered for and (b) passed each GCE O-level subject in each year since 1981.

Nick Gibb: The information requested is not available.

GCSE

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what proportion of pupils (a) entered for and (b) passed each GCSE subject in each year since 1997.

Nick Gibb: The requested information from 1997 to 2010 has been placed in the House Libraries.

GCE A-level: History

Chris Skidmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what proportion of pupils were entered for history A-level in (a) comprehensive schools, (b) maintained selective schools and (c) independent schools in 2010; and how many and what proportion of pupils obtained a grade C or above in history A-level in (i) comprehensive schools, (ii) maintained selective schools and (iii) independent schools in 2010.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 19 July 2011
	The information requested is in the following table.
	
		
			 Institution type Number of students taking A-levels in 2010 Number of students who were entered for History A-level in 2010 Percentage of students who were entered for History A-level in 2010 Number of students who achieved a grade C or above in History A-level in 2010 Percentage of students who achieved a grade C or above in History A-level in 2010 (1) 
			 Comprehensive schools 131,745 22,062 16.7 16,569 75.1 
			 Selective schools 24,431 4,692 19.2 4,363 93.0 
			 Modern schools 3,975 506 12.7 295 58.3 
			 Other maintained schools 986 108 11.0 73 67.6 
			 Independent schools 38,681 7,587 19.6 7,149 94.2 
			 Sixth form colleges 56,099 6,808 12.1 5,441 79.9 
			 Other further education sector colleges 30,298 3,383 11.2 2,291 67.7 
			 England 286,215 45,146 15.8 36,181 80.1 
			 (1) Number of students achieving a grade C or above in history A-level as a percentage of the number of students entered for A-level history. Source: School and College Performance Tables

GCE A-level: History

Chris Skidmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what proportion of pupils were entered for history A-level in each local authority area in 2010; and how many and what proportion of pupils entered for history A-level obtained a grade C or above in each local authority area in 2010.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 19 July 2011
	The requested information is shown in the following table:
	
		
			 GCE A-level History entries and achievements by local authority, 2010 
			 Local authority Number of A level students in each local authority Number of students who were entered for History A level in 2010 Percentage of students who were entered for History A level in 2010 Number of students who achieved a grade C or above in History A level in 2010 Percentage of students who achieved a grade C or above in History A level in 2010 (1) 
			 North East 10,421 1,581 15.2 1,178 74.5 
			 Darlington 924 146 15.8 110 75.3 
			 Durham 1,540 267 17.3 216 80.9 
			 Gateshead 720 142 19.7 107 75.4 
			 Hartlepool 418 35 8.4 27 77.1 
			 Middlesbrough 482 41 8.5 22 53.7 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 1,163 168 14.4 115 68.5 
			 North Tyneside 852 133 15.6 102 76.7 
			 Northumberland 1,466 237 16.2 179 75.5 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 772 90 11.7 68 75.6 
			 South Tyneside 378 41 10.8 34 82.9 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 858 136 15.9 98 72.1 
			 Sunderland 848 145 17.1 100 69.0 
			       
			 North West 33,904 4,417 13.0 3,435 77.8 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 838 77 9.2 57 74.0 
			 Blackpool 811 71 8.8 44 62.0 
			 Bolton 1,034 125 12.1 86 68.8 
			 Bury 1,463 165 11.3 132 80.0 
			 Cheshire East 1,867 342 18.3 270 78.9 
			 Cheshire West and Chester 2,421 262 10.8 202 77.1 
			 Cumbria 2,350 403 17.1 294 73.0 
			 Halton 272 44 16.2 33 75.0 
			 Knowsley 212 11 5.2 4 36.4 
			 Lancashire 4,650 615 13.2 529 86.0 
			 Liverpool 2,089 395 18.9 264 66.8 
			 Manchester 2,081 183 8.8 144 78.7 
			 Oldham 1,388 127 9.1 113 89.0 
			 Rochdale 297 31 10.4 22 71.0 
			 Salford 812 106 13.1 85 80.2 
			 Sefton 1,653 216 13.1 157 72.7 
			 St. Helens 1,017 97 9.5 72 74.2 
			 Stockport 1,623 140 8.6 118 84.3 
			 Tameside 865 86 9.9 64 74.4 
			 Trafford 1,199 236 19.7 199 84.3 
			 Warrington 1,078 182 16.9 132 72.5 
			 Wigan 1,733 238 13.7 212 89.1 
			 Wirral 2,151 265 12.3 202 76.2 
			       
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 22,603 3,289 14.6 2,435 74.0 
			 Barnsley 461 80 17.4 47 58.8 
			 Bradford 1,849 218 11.8 150 68.8 
			 Calderdale 920 141 15.3 103 73.0 
			 Doncaster 1,051 138 13.1 84 60.9 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 1,272 269 21.1 189 70.3 
			 Kingston Upon Hull, City of 894 75 8.4 63 84.0 
			 Kirklees 2,156 326 15.1 253 77.6 
			 Leeds 3,284 584 17.8 437 74.8 
			 North East Lincolnshire 668 47 7.0 35 74.5 
			 North Lincolnshire 921 118 12.8 90 76.3 
			 North Yorkshire 3,273 537 16.4 435 81.0 
			 Rotherham 1,424 182 12.8 116 63.7 
			 Sheffield 2,019 287 14.2 210 73.2 
			 Wakefield 1,372 129 9.4 100 77.5 
			 York 1,039 158 15.2 123 77.8 
			       
			 East Midlands 20,693 3,234 15.6 2,365 73.1 
			 Derby 1,033 194 18.8 143 73.7 
		
	
	
		
			 Derbyshire 2,830 535 18.9 404 75.5 
			 Leicester 1,638 104 6.3 68 65.4 
			 Leicestershire 3,553 358 10.1 269 75.1 
			 Lincolnshire 3,386 663 19.6 527 79.5 
			 Northamptonshire 3,421 586 17.1 388 66.2 
			 Nottingham 1,638 230 14.0 169 73.5 
			 Nottinghamshire 3,194 564 17.7 397 70.4 
			       
			 West Midlands 25,389 3,679 14.5 2,659 72.3 
			 Birmingham 4,881 632 12.9 480 75.9 
			 Coventry 1,296 187 14.4 137 73.3 
			 Dudley 1,763 256 14.5 190 74.2 
			 Herefordshire 976 170 17.4 149 87.6 
			 Sandwell 539 73 13.5 41 56.2 
			 Shropshire 1,439 187 13.0 150 80.2 
			 Solihull 1,507 189 12.5 144 76.2 
			 Staffordshire 3,595 610 17.0 400 65.6 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 835 115 13.8 70 60.9 
			 Telford and Wrekin 903 133 14.7 118 88.7 
			 Walsall 1,300 224 17.2 144 64.3 
			 Warwickshire 2,793 426 15.3 337 79.1 
			 Wolverhampton 982 104 10.6 59 56.7 
			 Worcestershire 2,580 373 14.5 240 64.3 
			       
			 East o f England 28,183 5,179 18.4 4,079 78.8 
			 Bedford 922 161 17.5 101 62.7 
			 Bedfordshire, Central 1,220 218 17.9 150 68.8 
			 Cambridgeshire 2,936 665 22.6 557 83.8 
			 Essex 6,355 1,058 16.6 839 79.3 
			 Hertfordshire 7,178 1,451 20.2 1,181 81.4 
			 Luton 862 86 10.0 68 79.1 
			 Norfolk 3,471 606 17.5 458 75.6 
			 Peterborough 805 148 18.4 105 70.9 
			 Southend-on-Sea 1,079 208 19.3 184 88.5 
			 Suffolk 2,780 514 18.5 389 75.7 
			 Thurrock 575 64 11.1 47 73.4 
			       
			 London 36,348 5,401 14.9 4,352 80.6 
			 Inner London 9,732 1,378 14.2 1,126 81.7 
			 Camden 976 208 21.3 180 86.5 
			 Hackney 384 32 8.3 26 81.3 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 773 113 14.6 91 80.5 
			 Haringey 662 104 15.7 80 76.9 
			 Islington 640 59 9.2 39 66.1 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 486 79 16.3 73 92.4 
			 Lambeth 345 42 12.2 30 71.4 
			 Lewisham 1,189 204 17.2 168 82.4 
			 Newham 838 54 6.4 45 83.3 
			 Southwark 373 71 19.0 59 83.1 
			 Tower Hamlets 692 54 7.8 42 77.8 
			 Wandsworth 1,392 218 15.7 179 82.1 
			 Westminster 982 140 14.3 114 81.4 
			       
			 Outer London 26,616 4,023 15.1 3,226 80.2 
			 Barking and Dagenham 663 103 15.5 70 68.0 
			 Barnet 2,701 447 16.5 398 89.0 
			 Bexley 1,250 267 21.4 177 66.3 
			 Brent 1,304 209 16.0 179 85.6 
		
	
	
		
			 Bromley 2,249 314 14.0 237 75.5 
			 Croydon 1,212 152 12.5 123 80.9 
			 Ealing 1,071 154 14.4 134 87.0 
			 Enfield 1,573 259 16.5 200 77.2 
			 Greenwich 773 90 11.6 65 72.2 
			 Harrow 1,356 166 12.2 139 83.7 
			 Havering 1,551 275 17.7 220 80.0 
			 Hillingdon 1,432 191 13.3 142 74.3 
			 Hounslow 1,372 207 15.1 184 88.9 
			 Kingston upon Thames 1,283 192 15.0 157 81.8 
			 Merton 286 27 9.4 21 77.8 
			 Redbridge 2,250 317 14.1 247 77.9 
			 Richmond upon Thames 1,192 205 17.2 162 79.0 
			 Sutton 1,642 281 17.1 256 91.1 
			 Waltham Forest 1,456 167 11.5 115 68.9 
			       
			 South East 45,956 7,081 15.4 5,632 79.5 
			 Bracknell Forest 396 61 15.4 44 72.1 
			 Brighton and Hove 1,539 289 18.8 243 84.1 
			 Buckinghamshire 3,487 614 17.6 555 90.4 
			 East Sussex 2,192 312 14.2 223 71.5 
			 Hampshire 9,307 1,222 13.1 958 78.4 
			 Isle of Wight 467 81 17.3 56 69.1 
			 Kent 7,170 1,211 16.9 992 81.9 
			 Medway 1,427 215 15.1 162 75.3 
			 Milton Keynes 1,093 194 17.7 141 72.7 
			 Oxfordshire 3,345 591 17.7 473 80.0 
			 Portsmouth 283 30 10.6 17 56.7 
			 Reading 494 103 20.9 81 78.6 
			 Slough 870 109 12.5 89 81.7 
			 Southampton 796 85 10.7 56 65.9 
			 Surrey 6,459 995 15.4 791 79.5 
			 West Berkshire 1,068 186 17.4 154 82.8 
			 West Sussex 3,952 517 13.1 395 76.4 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 789 115 14.6 83 72.2 
			 Wokingham 822 151 18.4 119 78.8 
			       
			 South West 24,037 3,698 15.4 2,897 78.3 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 928 194 20.9 173 89.2 
			 Bournemouth 514 72 14.0 65 90.3 
			 Bristol, City of 1,680 184 11.0 129 70.1 
			 Cornwall 2,218 250 11.3 169 67.6 
			 Devon 3,083 417 13.5 333 79.9 
			 Dorset 1,951 299 15.3 225 75.3 
			 Gloucestershire 3,641 634 17.4 517 81.5 
			 North Somerset 868 119 13.7 92 77.3 
			 Plymouth 1,144 233 20.4 184 79.0 
			 Poole 887 156 17.6 123 78.8 
			 Somerset 2,334 425 18.2 343 80.7 
			 South Gloucestershire 1,185 155 13.1 106 68.4 
			 Swindon 961 101 10.5 65 64.4 
			 Torbay 695 99 14.2 74 74.7 
			 Wiltshire 1,948 360 18.5 299 83.1 
			       
			 Total 247,534 37,559 15.2 29,032 77.3 
			 (1) Number of students achieving a grade C or above in History A-level as a percentage of the number of students entered for A-level History. Notes: 1. The figures in this answer are derived from data collected for the Performance tables. 2. The figures provided cover students aged 16-18 in maintained schools and further education colleges.

GCSE: History

Chris Skidmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education in how many mainstream secondary schools no pupil obtained grade C or above at history GCSE in 2010; and how many mainstream secondary schools did not enter any pupils for a history GCSE in 2010.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 19 July 2011
	Of the 3,881 mainstream secondary schools with pupils at the end of Key Stage 4, 159 had no pupils at the end of Key Stage 4 entered for GCSE history in 2010.
	There were no schools that entered pupils for a GCSE in history and had no pupils achieve a grade A* to C; therefore in 159 mainstream secondary schools no pupils achieved a grade A* to C in GCSE history in 2010.

GCSE: History

Chris Skidmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what proportion of pupils were entered for history GCSE in (a) comprehensive schools, (b) selective maintained schools and (c) independent schools in 2010; and how many and what proportion of pupils entered for history GCSE in (i) comprehensive schools, (ii) selective maintained schools and (iii) independent schools obtained a grade C or above in 2010.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 19 July 2011
	The requested information is given in the following table:
	
		
			  Number of pupils at the end of key stage 4 in 2010 Pupils entered for History GCSE in 2010 Pupils entered for History GCSE who obtained a grade C or above in 2010 
			  Number Number Percentage Number Percentage 
			 Comprehensive schools 520,914 155,982 30 101,897 65 
			 Selective maintained schools 22,607 12,389 55 11,827 95 
			 Independent schools 49,932 23,798 48 22,297 94 
			 Notes: 1. Pupils are at the end of Key Stage 4. 2. The data used to answer this question are derived from the 2010 School and College Performance tables.

GCSE: History

Chris Skidmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what proportion of pupils in mainstream maintained secondary schools were entered for history GCSE in each local authority area in 2010.

Nick Gibb: The requested information is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 GCSE history entries in all mainstream maintained schools by local authority, 2010 
			   Pupils who were entered for GCSE history in 2010 
			 Local authority Number of pupils on roll in the local authority at the end of key stage 4 Number Percentage 
			 North East 28,849 7,848 27.2 
			 Darlington 1,142 247 21.6 
			 Durham 5,351 1,358 25.4 
			 Gateshead 2,084 624 29.9 
			 Hartlepool 1,224 405 33.1 
			 Middlesbrough 1,644 402 24.5 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 2,484 484 19.5 
			 North Tyneside 2,090 758 36.3 
			 Northumberland 3,544 981 27.7 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 1,926 564 29.3 
			 South Tyneside 1,715 416 24.3 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 2,266 738 32.6 
			 Sunderland 3,379 871 25.8 
			     
			 North West 80,462 22,850 28.4 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 1,725 491 28.5 
			 Blackpool 1,575 398 25.3 
			 Bolton 3,499 930 26.6 
			 Bury 2,216 640 28.9 
			 Cheshire East 3,922 1,390 35.4 
			 Cheshire West and Chester 3,938 1,183 30.0 
			 Cumbria 6,064 2,070 34.1 
			 Halton 1,498 414 27.6 
			 Knowsley 1,601 269 16.8 
			 Lancashire 13,218 3,782 28.6 
			 Liverpool 4,989 1,479 29.6 
			 Manchester 4,415 919 20.8 
			 Oldham 2,977 671 22.5 
			 Rochdale 2,520 692 27.5 
			 Salford 2,140 564 26.4 
			 Sefton 3,293 922 28.0 
			 St Helens 1,983 409 20.6 
			 Stockport 2,973 798 26.8 
			 Tameside 2,881 635 22.0 
			 Trafford 2,825 1,029 36.4 
			 Warrington 2,489 976 39.2 
			 Wigan 3,810 911 23.9 
			 Wirral 3,911 1,278 32.7 
			     
			 Yorkshire and Humber 59,396 16,984 28.6 
			 Barnsley 2,547 703 27.6 
			 Bradford 5,783 1,244 21.5 
			 Calderdale 2,593 884 34.1 
		
	
	
		
			 Doncaster 3,551 1,024 28.8 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 3,940 1,532 38.9 
			 Kingston upon Hull, City of 2,739 603 22.0 
			 Kirklees 4,534 1,259 27.8 
			 Leeds 8,063 2,472 30.7 
			 North East Lincolnshire 1,979 441 22.3 
			 North Lincolnshire 2,009 448 22.3 
			 North Yorkshire 6,862 2,436 35.5 
			 Rotherham 3,588 838 23.4 
			 Sheffield 5,514 1,539 27.9 
			 Wakefield 3,954 944 23.9 
			 York 1,740 617 35.5 
			     
			 East Midlands 51,064 14,615 28.6 
			 Derby 2,839 626 22.1 
			 Derbyshire 8,694 2,622 30.2 
			 Leicester 3,457 782 22.6 
			 Leicestershire 7,380 1,587 21.5 
			 Lincolnshire 8,508 2,751 32.3 
			 Northamptonshire 7,871 2,472 31.4 
			 Nottingham 2,711 610 22.5 
			 Nottinghamshire 9,112 2,930 32.2 
			 Rutland 492 235 47.8 
			     
			 West Midlands 63,495 19,198 30.2 
			 Birmingham 11,984 3,538 29.5 
			 Coventry 3,545 818 23.1 
			 Dudley 3,883 1,210 31.2 
			 Herefordshire 1,898 746 39.3 
			 Sandwell 3,521 767 21.8 
			 Shropshire 3,256 1,052 32.3 
			 Solihull 3,039 886 29.2 
			 Staffordshire 9,569 3,253 34.0 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 2,538 661 26.0 
			 Telford and Wrekin 2,091 620 29.7 
			 Walsall 3,548 900 25.4 
			 Warwickshire 6,013 2,175 36.2 
			 Wolverhampton 2,671 637 23.8 
			 Worcestershire 5,939 1,935 32.6 
			     
			 East of England 64,657 22,728 35.2 
			 Bedford 1,803 449 24.9 
			 Bedfordshire, Central 2,930 1,002 34.2 
			 Cambridgeshire 5,977 2,363 39.5 
			 Essex 15,991 5,279 33.0 
			 Hertfordshire 12,805 4,988 39.0 
			 Luton 2,357 786 33.3 
		
	
	
		
			 Norfolk 8,962 3,170 35.4 
			 Peterborough 2,214 751 33.9 
			 Southend-on-Sea 2,179 734 33.7 
			 Suffolk 7,666 2,752 35.9 
			 Thurrock 1,773 454 25.6 
			     
			 London 73,063 23,397 32.0 
			 Inner London 22,556 6,125 27.2 
			 Camden 1,470 472 32.1 
			 Hackney 1,286 346 26.9 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 1,006 442 43.9 
			 Haringey 2,105 524 24.9 
			 Islington 1,382 359 26.0 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 548 217 39.6 
			 Lambeth 1,550 418 27.0 
			 Lewisham 2,123 674 31.7 
			 Newham 3,330 519 15.6 
			 Southwark 2,269 669 29.5 
			 Tower Hamlets 2,393 480 20.1 
			 Wandsworth 1,754 555 31.6 
			 Westminster 1,340 450 33.6 
			 Outer London 50,507 17,272 34.2 
			 Barking and Dagenham 2,108 587 27.8 
			 Barnet 3,355 1,376 41.0 
			 Bexley 3,213 1,309 40.7 
			 Brent 2,803 733 26.2 
			 Bromley 3,358 1,252 37.3 
			 Croydon 3,631 1,084 29.9 
			 Ealing 2,802 931 33.2 
			 Enfield 3,583 1,280 35.7 
			 Greenwich 2,261 643 28.4 
			 Harrow 2,138 733 34.3 
			 Havering 3,057 1,102 36.0 
			 Hillingdon 2,990 829 27.7 
			 Hounslow 2,611 982 37.6 
			 Kingston upon Thames 1,433 536 37.4 
			 Merton 1,533 427 27.9 
			 Redbridge 3,174 1,090 34.3 
			 Richmond upon Thames 1,317 598 45.4 
			 Sutton 2,610 1,044 40.0 
			 Waltham Forest 2,530 736 29.1 
			     
			 South East 89,266 30,413 34.1 
			 Bracknell Forest 1,087 513 47.2 
			 Brighton and Hove 2,299 658 28.6 
			 Buckinghamshire 5,619 2,208 39.3 
			 East Sussex 5,311 1,556 29.3 
		
	
	
		
			 Hampshire 13,937 4,961 35.6 
			 Isle of Wight 1,522 526 34.6 
			 Kent 16,490 5,095 30.9 
			 Medway 3,368 955 28.4 
			 Milton Keynes 2,694 734 27.2 
			 Oxfordshire 6,284 2,411 38.4 
			 Portsmouth 1,867 598 32.0 
			 Reading 972 372 38.3 
			 Slough 1,545 455 29.4 
			 Southampton 2,058 528 25.7 
			 Surrey 10,529 3,649 34.7 
			 West Berkshire 1,965 814 41.4 
			 West Sussex 8,393 2,988 35.6 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 1,511 594 39.3 
			 Wokingham 1,815 798 44.0 
			     
			 South West 56,070 17,746 31.6 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 2,211 760 34.4 
			 Bournemouth 1,743 439 25.2 
			 Bristol, City of 2,924 653 22.3 
			 Cornwall 5,851 1,644 28.1 
			 Devon 7,621 2,120 27.8 
			 Dorset 4,328 1,481 34.2 
			 Gloucestershire 6,867 2,381 34.7 
			 Isles of Scilly 22 4 18.2 
			 North Somerset 2,250 808 35.9 
			 Plymouth 2,934 843 28.7 
			 Poole 1,659 642 38.7 
			 Somerset 5,674 2,098 37.0 
			 South Gloucestershire 3,159 1,025 32.4 
			 Swindon 2,170 686 31.6 
			 Torbay 1,493 517 34.6 
			 Wiltshire 5,164 1,645 31.9 
			 Total: England 566,322 175,779 31.0 
			 Notes: 1. The figures are for pupils at the end of key stage 4. 2. The figures cover all mainstream maintained schools, including academies and city technology colleges. 3. The figures are derived from data collected for the performance tables.

GCSE: History

Chris Skidmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what proportion of pupils obtained a grade C or above in history GCSE in each local authority area in 2010.

Nick Gibb: The requested information is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 GCSE History achievements in all maintained schools by local authority, 2010 
			 Local authority Number of pupils who were entered for GCSE History in 2010 Number of pupils who achieved a grade C or above in GCSE History in 2010 Percentage of pupils who were entered for, and achieved a grade C or above in GCSE History in 2010 
			 North East 7,873 5,067 64.4 
			 Darlington 247 158 64.0 
			 Durham 1,373 893 65.0 
			 Gateshead 627 417 66.5 
			 Hartlepool 405 250 61.7 
			 Middlesbrough 402 236 58.7 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 484 332 68.6 
			 North Tyneside 758 490 64.6 
			 Northumberland 981 678 69.1 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 564 389 69.0 
			 South Tyneside 419 255 60.9 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 738 440 59.6 
			 Sunderland 875 529 60.5 
			     
			 North West 22,863 15,176 66.4 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 491 274 55.8 
			 Blackpool 398 208 52.3 
			 Bolton 930 597 64.2 
			 Bury 640 456 71.3 
			 Cheshire East 1,390 1,027 73.9 
			 Cheshire West and Chester 1,190 796 66.9 
			 Cumbria 2,070 1,384 66.9 
			 Halton 414 276 66.7 
			 Knowsley 269 134 49.8 
			 Lancashire 3,783 2,608 68.9 
			 Liverpool 1,479 930 62.9 
			 Manchester 919 484 52.7 
			 Oldham 671 399 59.5 
			 Rochdale 692 398 57.5 
			 Salford 568 309 54.4 
			 Sefton 922 628 68.1 
			 St Helens 409 261 63.8 
			 Stockport 798 561 70.3 
			 Tameside 635 368 58.0 
			 Trafford 1,029 865 84.1 
			 Warrington 976 695 71.2 
			 Wigan 911 600 65.9 
			 Wirral 1,279 918 71.8 
			     
			 Yorkshire and Humber 16,992 10,830 63.7 
			 Barnsley 703 368 52.3 
			 Bradford 1,244 759 61.0 
			 Calderdale 884 593 67.1 
			 Doncaster 1,024 545 53.2 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 1,532 964 62.9 
		
	
	
		
			 Kingston Upon Hull, City of 603 288 47.8 
			 Kirklees 1,259 768 61.0 
			 Leeds 2,479 1,654 66.7 
			 North East Lincolnshire 441 293 66.4 
			 North Lincolnshire 448 261 58.3 
			 North Yorkshire 2,437 1,819 74.6 
			 Rotherham 838 572 68.3 
			 Sheffield 1,539 947 61.5 
			 Wakefield 944 586 62.1 
			 York 617 413 66.9 
			     
			 East Midlands 14,624 9,372 64.1 
			 Derby 626 445 71.1 
			 Derbyshire 2,622 1,744 66.5 
			 Leicester 782 500 63.9 
			 Leicestershire 1,587 958 60.4 
			 Lincolnshire 2,760 1,890 68.5 
			 Northamptonshire 2,472 1,497 60.6 
			 Nottingham 610 355 58.2 
			 Nottinghamshire 2,930 1,824 62.3 
			 Rutland 235 159 67.7 
			     
			 West Midlands 19,217 12,321 64.1 
			 Birmingham 3,549 2,406 67.8 
			 Coventry 818 526 64.3 
			 Dudley 1,210 720 59.5 
			 Herefordshire 746 499 66.9 
			 Sandwell 767 421 54.9 
			 Shropshire 1,052 699 66.4 
			 Solihull 886 618 69.8 
			 Staffordshire 3,254 1,988 61.1 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 661 368 55.7 
			 Telford and Wrekin 620 393 63.4 
			 Walsall 900 568 63.1 
			 Warwickshire 2,182 1,382 63.3 
			 Wolverhampton 637 389 61.1 
			 Worcestershire 1,935 1,344 69.5 
			     
			 East of England 22,741 15,254 67.1 
			 Bedford 449 288 64.1 
			 Bedfordshire, Central 1,002 617 61.6 
			 Cambridgeshire 2,363 1,724 73.0 
			 Essex 5,283 3,389 64.1 
			 Hertfordshire 4,994 3,757 75.2 
			 Luton 786 441 56.1 
		
	
	
		
			 Norfolk 3,172 2,020 63.7 
			 Peterborough 751 458 61.0 
			 Southend-on-Sea 735 589 80.1 
			 Suffolk 2,752 1,676 60.9 
			 Thurrock 454 295 65.0 
			     
			 London 23,405 16,129 68.9 
			 Inner London 6,126 3,976 64.9 
			 Camden 472 322 68.2 
			 Hackney 346 246 71.1 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 442 359 81.2 
			 Haringey 524 378 72.1 
			 Islington 359 182 50.7 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 217 182 83.9 
			 Lambeth 418 258 61.7 
			 Lewisham 674 389 57.7 
			 Newham 519 320 61.7 
			 Southwark 669 383 57.2 
			 Tower Hamlets 480 281 58.5 
			 Wandsworth 556 364 65.5 
			 Westminster 450 312 69.3 
			     
			 Outer London 17,279 12,153 70.3 
			 Barking and Dagenham 587 353 60.1 
			 Barnet 1,376 1,050 76.3 
			 Bexley 1,309 863 65.9 
			 Brent 733 522 71.2 
			 Bromley 1,253 952 76.0 
			 Croydon 1,084 704 64.9 
			 Ealing 931 619 66.5 
			 Enfield 1,280 874 68.3 
			 Greenwich 643 405 63.0 
			 Harrow 733 516 70.4 
			 Havering 1,102 771 70.0 
			 Hillingdon 829 541 65.3 
			 Hounslow 982 699 71.2 
			 Kingston upon Thames 536 436 81.3 
			 Merton 427 266 62.3 
			 Redbridge 1,090 819 75.1 
			 Richmond upon Thames 598 428 71.6 
			 Sutton 1,044 887 85.0 
			 Waltham Forest 742 448 60.4 
			     
			 South East 30,439 20,970 68.9 
			 Bracknell Forest 513 339 66.1 
		
	
	
		
			 Brighton and Hove 658 455 69.1 
			 Buckinghamshire 2,208 1,714 77.6 
			 East Sussex 1,558 1,085 69.6 
			 Hampshire 4,977 3,444 69.2 
			 Isle of Wight 526 285 54.2 
			 Kent 5,095 3,599 70.6 
			 Medway 955 587 61.5 
			 Milton Keynes 736 448 60.9 
			 Oxfordshire 2,411 1,625 67.4 
			 Portsmouth 598 329 55.0 
			 Reading 372 236 63.4 
			 Slough 455 324 71.2 
			 Southampton 528 307 58.1 
			 Surrey 3,649 2,639 72.3 
			 West Berkshire 814 606 74.4 
			 West Sussex 2,994 1,966 65.7 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 594 395 66.5 
			 Wokingham 798 587 73.6 
			     
			 South West 17,756 11,991 67.5 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 761 547 71.9 
			 Bournemouth 439 313 71.3 
			 Bristol, City of 654 415 63.5 
			 Cornwall 1,644 1,041 63.3 
			 Devon 2,120 1,371 64.7 
		
	
	
		
			 Dorset 1,481 1,077 72.7 
			 Gloucestershire 2,381 1,799 75.6 
			 Isles of Scilly 4 3 75.0 
			 North Somerset 808 510 63.1 
			 Plymouth 843 545 64.7 
			 Poole 642 429 66.8 
			 Somerset 2,098 1,347 64.2 
			 South Gloucestershire 1,025 631 61.6 
			 Swindon 686 398 58.0 
			 Torbay 517 412 79.7 
			 Wiltshire 1,653 1,153 69.8 
			     
			 Total—England 175,910 117,110 66.6 
			 Notes: 1. The figures are for pupils at the end of Key Stage 4. 2. The figures cover all maintained schools, including Academies and city technology colleges. 3. The figures are derived from data collected for the Performance tables.

GCSE: History

Chris Skidmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what proportion of pupils were entered for GCSE history examination in (a) mainstream comprehensive schools, (b) selective schools and (c) independent schools in each year since 1997; and how many and what proportion of such pupils achieved a grade C and above in each such year.

Nick Gibb: The requested information is shown in the following tables.
	
		
			 School type 
			  Number of pupils (1)  entered for GCSE (2)  history Percentage of pupils (1)  entered for GCSE (2)  history 
			  Comprehensive Selective Independent (3) Comprehensive Selective Independent (3) 
			 1997 169,298 10,922 20,984 36.3 53.7 50.1 
			 1998 153,001 10,042 20,490 32.0 50.3 47.0 
			 1999 153,505 10,320 19,851 31.8 50.8 46.4 
			 2000 153,670 10,746 20,168 31.9 53.2 47.2 
			 2001 156,816 11,338 20,891 31.3 54.1 47.5 
			 2002 155,211 11,433 21,269 30.8 53.8 48.2 
			 2003 155,847 11,431 21,317 30.2 52.7 48.1 
			 2004 164,188 12,145 22,252 30.8 54.6 47.4 
			 2005 164,298 12,327 23,619 31.2 55.3 50.5 
			 2006 164,606 12,549 23,930 30.8 55.8 49.1 
			 2007 161,001 11,865 23,951 29.8 52.8 49.9 
			 2008 160,362 12,147 23,694 29.9 53.8 49.5 
			 2009 155,381 11,914 23,229 29.9 53.2 48.0 
			 2010 155,982 12,389 23,798 29.9 54.8 47.7 
		
	
	
		
			 School type 
			  Number of pupils (1)  who achieved grade A*-C in GCSE history Percentage of pupils (1)  who were entered for, and achieved grade A*-C in GCSE history 
			  Comprehensive Selective Independent (3) Comprehensive Selective Independent (3) 
			 1997 86,345 10,005 19,349 51.0 91.6 92.2 
			 1998 81,168 9,528 19,043 . 53.1 94.9 92.9 
			 1999 85,265 9,800 18,602 55.5 95.0 93.7 
			 2000 86,869 10,292 18,914 56.5 95.8 93.8 
			 2001 88,122 10,853 19,504 56.2 95.7 93.4 
			 2002 88,617 . 10,852 19,995 57.1 94.9 94.0 
			 2003 91,133 10,932 20,070 58.5 95.6 94.2 
			 2004 97,154 11,692 21,012 59.2 96.3 94.4 
			 2005 98,761 11,762 22,172 60.1 95.4 93.9 
			 2006 100,031 11,927 22,391 60.8 95.0 93.6 
			 2007 99,823 11,357 22,496 62.0 95.7 93.9 
			 2008 100,935 11,597 22,191 62.9 95.5 93.7 
			 2009 99,697 11,457 21,679 64.2 96.2 93.3 
			 2010 101,897 11,827 22,297 65.4 95.4 93.7 
			 (1) For the years 1997-2004,15-year-old pupils are counted. For the years 2005-10, pupils at the end of Key Stage 4 are counted. (2) Only full GCSE courses have been counted. (3) Pupils at independent special schools are also counted. Note: The figures for this answer have been derived from the data collected for the secondary school performance tables.

GCSE: History

Chris Skidmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many mainstream comprehensive schools entered (a) no pupils, (b) fewer than 5% of pupils, (c) fewer than 10% of pupils and (d) fewer than 25% of pupils for GCSE history examinations in 2010. [Official Report, 15 September 2011, Vol. 532, c. 11MC.]

Nick Gibb: 2,734 schools have been identified as being mainstream comprehensive.
	All of these schools entered pupils for GCSE history
	17 had fewer than 5% of pupils entered for GCSE history
	139 had fewer than 10% entered for GCSE history
	1,031 schools had fewer than 25% of pupils entered for GCSE history in 2010.

Ministerial Meetings

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what (a) meetings and (b) other engagements (i) Ministers and (ii) special advisers in his Department attended which were also attended by (A) representatives, (B) journalists and (C) other employees of (1) News International and its subsidiary organisations including newspapers, (2) News Corporation and its subsidiary organisations and (3) BSkyB since 12 May 2010.

Tim Loughton: As has been the practice of previous Administrations, information relating to internal meetings, discussions and advice is not normally disclosed. I refer the right hon. Member to the Prime Minister’s statement to the House on 13 July 2011, Official Report, columns 311-14.

Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department is taking to increase sexual awareness among pupils in schools.

Nick Gibb: The Government believe that it is important for pupils to have access to high-quality, age-appropriate sex and relationships education (SRE). Schools have a clear role in reinforcing the information that young people receive from parents and in providing them with a safe and supportive environment in which to develop the knowledge they need to make wise and informed choices. SRE is compulsory in secondary schools, and primary schools may also choose to provide it. All schools must have an agreed policy on sex education.
	In the Schools White Paper, “The Importance of Teaching”, we announced our intention to conduct an internal review of personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education, including SRE, so that we can determine how to support schools to improve the quality of teaching in this often sensitive and challenging area. We are still considering the scope and process of the review, but we will say more about this shortly.

Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education

John Glen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much his Department and its associated public bodies have spent on the provision of sex and relationship education in each year since 2001.

Sarah Teather: The Department does not collect this information centrally.

Play Facilities

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what plans he has for the future of the Play Strategy issued by his Department's predecessor in 2008;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to ensure adequate provision of play facilities (a) in urban and deprived areas and (b) elsewhere;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the adequacy of provision of play facilities in each local authority area.

Sarah Teather: The Government recognise how important it is that children have safe, free local places to play, and the benefits these places bring to the wider community more generally. However, it is not for central Government to determine what play facilities are available in local areas, or to tell the experts in the play sector how to deliver play provision. Children, parents, play professionals and local communities best know what is most needed in their local areas.
	The play capital programme finished at the end of March 2011, as originally intended under the previous Government's Play Strategy. This Government are giving councils more freedom over how they spend their money, giving communities more control over developments in their neighbourhoods, and making it easier for volunteers and charities to get involved. This should provide the opportunities for committed people and local groups to continue to influence play provision in their areas, leaving responsibility for play provision where it belongs: with local areas and their communities.

Postgraduate Education

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on plans to increase the number of universities offering PGCE courses in core subjects within the English Baccalaureate.

Nick Gibb: The Department for Education estimates the number of teacher training places (including those on Post Graduate Certificates in Education courses) needed for each subject. This includes consideration of the effects of changes such as the introduction of the English Baccalaureate qualification. The Training and Development Agency for schools (TDA) allocates these places to academic institutions and other providers of initial teacher training. The Department's current assessment is that there is enough capacity in the existing pool of universities who are accredited as initial teacher training providers to meet the requirement for teacher training places in all subjects, including those in the English Baccalaureate.

Postgraduate Education: Fees and Charges

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the number of universities which will charge £9,000 for PGCE courses in core subjects within the English Baccalaureate in 2012-13.

Nick Gibb: The Department has taken note of universities' intentions on tuition charges for undergraduate higher education, which were published by the Office for Fair Access on 12 July. The Department has not made a specific estimate of the number of universities which will charge £9,000 for PGCE courses in core subjects within the English Baccalaureate in 2012-13. The Department for Education is proposing bursaries of up to £20,000 in 2012/13 to encourage the best graduates into teaching and support them during their training. The most generous bursaries are in mathematics, science and modern languages, which are core English Baccalaureate subjects.

Primary Education: Extracurricular Activities

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he has plans to reduce the (a) staff training requirements and (b) administrative burdens associated with running a holiday play scheme under the Early Years Foundation Stage.

Sarah Teather: holding answer 14 July 2011
	On 6 July 2011, the Government launched a consultation on a revised Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), which responded to recommendations made by Dame Clare Tickell in her review of EYFS which was published on 30 March 2011. The revised EYFS is intended to reduce burdens on all early years providers.
	The consultation document maintains training requirements critical to safeguarding and welfare of children in settings including holiday play schemes. It is for managers to determine how much training they and their staff require and to make arrangements for it to be provided.

Public Service: Bolton

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the potential future cost to public services in Bolton borough of the change in his Department's funding for early intervention.

Sarah Teather: The Department does not make such estimates. Local authorities are responsible for early intervention and other public services in their areas. The Government have made available £2.2 billion in 2011-12 and £2.3 billion in 2012-13 in the Early Intervention Grant (EIG) to local authorities. Further information is available at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/childrenandyoungpeople/earlylearningandchildcare/a0070357/early-intervention-grant-frequently-asked-questions/
	The EIG is an un-ring-fenced and un-hypothecated funding stream that gives local authorities greater flexibility to target resources strategically and to intervene early to improve outcomes for children, young people and families. It is up to local authorities to judge how best to use this funding for their local communities, taking account of local need and evidence of what is most effective.

Schools: Standards

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment his Department has made of the extent to which schools are switching to small examination boards in certain subjects.

Nick Gibb: This information is not collected centrally.

Schools: Vocational Guidance

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent representations he has received on the potential effects of allowing schools to determine whether or not to commission professional careers guidance.

Nick Gibb: Proposals in the Education Bill place a clear duty on schools to secure access to independent and impartial careers guidance for pupils in years 9 to 11. This includes information on the full range of 16-18 education and training options. Schools are free to determine how best to fulfil this duty, taking into account the needs of their pupils.
	The subject of careers guidance has been raised in discussions with a number of interested parties including representatives from the careers sector, the Association of School and College Leaders and the Association of Colleges. In addition, a wide range of evidence has been submitted to inform the passage of the Education Bill through Parliament and careers guidance has been the focus of debates on clause 26 and clause 27.

Special Educational Needs

Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the merits of developing commissioning guidance for head teachers on support for children with speech, language and communication needs.

Sarah Teather: The Department has made no such assessment. The special educational needs (SEN) and disability Green Paper, “Support and aspiration: A new approach to special educational needs and disability”, highlights the importance of joint local commissioning of services for disabled children and those with SEN, with local authorities taking a leading role involving other professionals, including head teachers. Consultation on the Green Paper finished on 30 June and we have invited bids for local areas to run pathfinders to test proposals in the Green Paper. We will consider responses to questions in the Green Paper on local collaboration, the emerging lessons from the pathfinders and the views of SEN organisations before setting out how we will encourage better commissioning for disabled children and those with SEN, including children with speech, language and communication needs.

Special Educational Needs

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education with reference to the special educational needs Green Paper, paragraph 7, page 5, what the evidential basis is for the bias identified by his Department towards inclusion for children with special educational needs.

Sarah Teather: In developing the Green Paper many parents told us that they do not have a real choice of school, including many parents who want a special school for their child and feel frustrated by not being given their choice by the local authority. By preventing the unnecessary closure of special schools and encouraging the development of the special school sector, through special academies and free schools, the Government will improve parents' choice of school, whether that be for mainstream or special.

Special Educational Needs

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he plans to take to ensure (a) consistency of quality and (b) affordability of provision for children with (i) special educational needs and (ii) disabilities under his planned system of personal budgets.

Sarah Teather: Our Green Paper, “Support and aspiration: A new approach to special educational needs and disability”, proposed that all families of children with the proposed “Education, Health and Care Plan” would be able to take up the offer of a personal budget by 2014. On 30 June, we invited bids from local authorities and their partners to become pathfinders. The pathfinders will test a range of proposals set out in the Green Paper, including the option of a personal budget. Pathfinders involved in testing personal budgets will be expected to explore the cost and impact of providing support in this way, so as to ensure that all children with special educational needs or who are disabled continue to receive high quality services, whether or not the family wishes to take up the offer of a personal budget.

Special Educational Needs

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether the new Special Educational Needs (SEN) Code of Practice will include a child's right to a named and trained senior person in each school responsible for SEN.

Sarah Teather: holding answer 18 July 2011
	The current Special Educational Needs (SEN) Code of Practice sets out the role of the Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO), who has day-to-day responsibility for the co-ordination of provision made for individual children with SEN and can provide advice to those children. Every local authority maintained mainstream school and every new mainstream academy, following the Academies Act 2010, must appoint a SENCO and that SENCO must be a qualified teacher. The current code points out that many schools find it effective for the SENCO to be a member of the senior leadership team.
	In any revision of the code of practice following the SEN and disability Green Paper we will consider whether to say more about the support SENCOs can give to individual children as well as their colleagues in meeting those children's SEN.

Special Educational Needs

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what consideration he has given to including in the Special Educational Needs Code of Practice a (a) report for parents to challenge the special educational needs system and (b) complaints and appeals process.

Sarah Teather: holding answer 18 July  2011 
	The Department has consulted on a special educational needs (SEN) and disability Green Paper, “Support and aspiration” which sets out wide-ranging proposals for reform. We aim to give parents more control over the support for their child and family. We are proposing that local authorities and other local services communicate a clear local offer for families to clarify what support is available and from whom; that parents have the option of a personal budget by 2014; parents have access to transparent information about the funding which supports their child's needs; parents have a clear choice of school; and that if local authorities and parents disagree, they always try mediation first, to resolve problems in a less adversarial way than having to take their case to the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability).

Special Educational Needs: Dyslexia

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much his Department has spent on (a) diagnosis of and (b) educational support for children with dyslexia in each of the last five years; what information his Department holds on the number of children diagnosed with dyslexia in each of the last five years; what steps he has taken to ensure the accuracy of diagnoses of dyslexia; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah Teather: holding answer 19 July 2011
	Data are not collected centrally on spending on diagnosis and support for children with dyslexia or on the number of children with dyslexia. Data are collected on the number of children at School Action Plus under the Special Educational Needs Code of Practice or with statements of special educational needs with specific learning difficulty, which includes dyslexia. In January 2011 there were 78,135 such pupils; 11.1% of the total number of children at School Action Plus and with statements.
	Schools and local authorities have statutory duties in respect of identifying and supporting children with special educational needs from within the funds available to them.
	The Department is taking a range of specific measures to improve the identification of and support for children with dyslexia. These include:
	making support available to every school for the teaching of systematic synthetic phonics—revising and strengthening the core criteria that define the key features of an effective systematic synthetic phonics programme to help schools in selecting an effective programme and making £3,000 of match funding available to all schools with Key Stage One pupils for phonics materials and training;
	introducing a new phonics screening check for children in Year One; working with initial teacher training providers to ensure that all trainee primary teachers have the understanding and confidence to teach children to read using systematic synthetic phonics; funding teachers to take specialist dyslexia training courses approved by the British Dyslexia Association (some 3,200 teachers in the period 2009-11);
	developing through the Training and Development Agency for Schools specialist resources for initial teacher training programmes including units on dyslexia to give trainees a grounding in recognising dyslexia and supporting pupils with dyslexia;
	developing through the Training and Development Agency for Schools new advanced level online modules in dyslexia which will build on earlier programmes and further enhance teachers' knowledge, understanding and skills; and,
	providing grant funding to the Dyslexia-Specific Learning Difficulty Trust in 2011-12 to raise awareness and support parents and schools.

Special Educational Needs: Dyslexia

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether his Department has assessed the role of (a) vision control problems and (b) eye convergence difficulties in causing reading problems; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah Teather: holding answer 19 July 2011
	The Department has not conducted an assessment of the role of vision control problems and eye convergence problems in causing reading problems. If teachers suspect that a child may have eyesight difficulties they can discuss those with a child's parents or carers so that they can consider arranging for their child to be seen by an NHS professional such as an optician or general practitioner.

Special Educational Needs: Finance

Stephen Mosley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he has made an assessment of the effectiveness of providing individual pupil funding for children with special educational needs.

Sarah Teather: On 19 July we launched a consultation on reform to the school funding system, including funding for high needs pupils.
	The Green Paper on special educational needs and disability, “Support and aspiration; A new approach to special educational needs and disability”, sets out how personal budgets could be used to enhance the control parents have over the support services they receive for their child. We are piloting the personal budget approach to ensure that local authorities properly understand how they and their partners should commission services to ensure all children can access high quality provision, whether or not their parents take up the option of a personal budget. The consultation period ran until 30 June 2011 and we will publish our plans later this year when we have considered the responses received.

Teachers

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what guidance his Department provides to (a) primary and (b) secondary schools on enterprise teaching.

Nick Gibb: The Department does not produce guidance on enterprise teaching. Enterprise education is part of the economic well-being strand of personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education. Pupils are taught what it means to be enterprising; the nature of the world of work; about different types of businesses and how to manage their finances effectively.
	The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is developing online resources for teachers that will enable them to set up school businesses and access support from local enterprise champions.

Teachers: Training

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the likely effect on the viability of higher education institutions of a move to school-based initial teacher training.

Nick Gibb: h olding answer 23 May  2011
	We have recently published our proposals for the reform of initial teacher training in the discussion document “Training our next generation of outstanding teachers”. These proposals are for discussion until 22 July, and we will publish our final policy in September. Our reforms do not signal the end of the involvement of higher education institutions in ITT, and the discussion document sets out the role we see for them in the future of training teachers. As we implement our reforms to ITT, the Training and Development Agency for Schools and the new Teaching Agency will continue to consider the viability of HEIs in implementing changes to the system.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Departmental Air Travel

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what occasions he has flown on official business (a) by budget airline and (b) in economy class in the last 12 months.

Owen Paterson: In the past 12 months I have flown on official business by budget airline on seven occasions; four of which were in economy class.
	I regularly travel to and from Belfast from the UK mainland. Travel plans can often change at the last minute, for example, to take account of requirements at Westminster. For this reason I normally travel premium economy which allows flights to be changed at no or minimal cost and is therefore most cost effective.
	This contrasts with the travel arrangements under the previous administration when the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland routinely used a private jet for official journeys between London and Belfast. Under this Government, the Department no longer uses private jet hire for regular travel by the Secretary of State.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

British Board of Film Classification: Videos

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport when he expects to implement recommendation 4 of the Bailey Review relating to the exemption of music videos from statutory regulation by the British Board of Film Classification; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Vaizey: Work is under way, and a consultation will be published later this year.

Sky TV

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much his Department has spent on subscriptions to Sky TV since May 2010.

John Penrose: The Department has not spent on subscriptions to Sky TV since May 2010.

Carbon Emissions

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the carbon dioxide emissions from his Department in (a) June 2010 and (b) June 2011.

John Penrose: This Department estimates that its carbon dioxide emissions were 220.89 tonnes in June 2010 and 204.61 tonnes in June 2011.

Conditions of Employment

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many meetings officials of his Department have had with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on the Government’s employment law review since May 2011.

John Penrose: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 21 June 2011, Official Report, column 165W.

Departmental Lost Property

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what property has been (a) lost and (b) stolen from his Department in the last 12 months; and what the cost of replacement was.

John Penrose: In the last 12 months, two memory sticks and one BlackBerry have been lost, and one laptop stolen from this Department. The cost of replacing the lost property was £286.00. The stolen laptop has not been replaced.

Departmental Manpower

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 
	(1)  how many people have been (a) recruited to and (b) made redundant from (i) his Department and (ii) each non-departmental body for which he is responsible since May 2010;
	(2)  how much (a) his Department and (b) each non-departmental body for which he is responsible has spent on redundancies since May 2010.

John Penrose: Since May 2010, this Department has recruited six members of staff, all on fixed term contracts. In the final quarter of 2010-11 the Department ran a voluntary redundancy scheme for all staff under the new Civil Service Compensation Scheme and 44 members of staff have left as at 30 June 2011. The Department has spent £2,891,000 on redundancies since May 2010.
	The Department does not hold this information for each arm's length body for which it is responsible and I have asked the chief executive of each one to write directly to my right hon. Friend. Copies of these letters will be placed in the Library of both Houses.

Departmental Photographs

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much his Department has spent on ministerial photo shoots and videos since May 2010.

John Penrose: holding answer 19 July 2011
	The Department has spent approximately £1,058 on photo shoots and £2,095 on videos that included covering ministerial engagements and events since May 2010.

Departmental Procurement

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many procurement contracts his Department has awarded to small businesses since May 2010.

John Penrose: The Department has awarded 127 contracts to small and medium enterprises, since May 2010.

Departmental Procurement

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what proportion of procurement contracts offered by his Department have been advertised on the Contracts Finder website since the website's inception.

John Penrose: All of the Department's procurement contracts that are eligible for advertisement have been placed on the Contracts Finder website:
	http://www.contractsfinder.businesslink.gov.uk/

Departmental Redundancy

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much his Department has spent on redundancy costs since May 2010.

John Penrose: holding answer 19 July 2011
	In the final quarter of 2010-11, the Department ran a voluntary redundancy scheme for all staff under the new Civil Service Compensation Scheme, and 44 members of staff have left as at 30 June 2011. The Department has spent £2,891,000 on redundancies since May 2010.

Business Regulation

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many regulations his Department has introduced (a) in the six months prior to 1 September 2010 and (b) in the six months after 1 September 2010 which it has determined do not impose costs on businesses.

John Penrose: Between 1 March and 1 September 2010, this Department did not introduce any regulations which do not impose costs on businesses.
	In the six months after 1 September 2010, the Department introduced one statutory instrument, the Media Ownership (Radio and Cross-media) Order 2011, to remove the local cross media ownership rules the impact of introducing the regulation is net zero cost to business.

Business Regulation

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many regulations that impose costs on businesses his Department has (a) introduced and (b) removed since 1 September 2010; what the net effect on the costs on businesses of such introductions and removals was; and what regulations have been excluded from the one-in one-out system because they address (i) emergencies and (ii) systemic financial risks since 1 September 2010.

John Penrose: Since 1 September 2010, the Department introduced three statutory instruments which impose costs on business:
	1. The Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) (Amendment) Regulations 2011.
	2. The Electronic Communications (Universal Service) (Amendment) Order 2011.
	3. The Electronic Communications and Wireless Telegraphy Regulations 2011.
	The equivalent annual direct impact on business is about £8 million. The annual benefit to business is £0.3 million, but is expected to bring additional non-monetised benefits which are substantially more than the costs.
	Since 1 September 2010, the Department has not removed any regulations which impose costs on businesses, nor excluded any regulations from the one-in one-out system because of emergencies or systemic financial risks.

Business Regulation

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many regulations that impose costs on businesses his Department (a) introduced and (b) removed in the six months prior to 1 September 2010; and what the net effect on the costs on businesses of such introductions and removals was.

John Penrose: Between 1 March and 1 September 2010, the Department introduced one statutory instrument:
	The Gambling Act 2005 (Operating Licence Conditions) (Amendment) Regulations 2010
	which imposed a gross cost on business, but the net overall effect of the regulation was a benefit to business.
	Within the same period, the Department did not remove any regulations which imposed costs on businesses.

Business Regulation

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what process his Department follows for the production of regulatory guidance; and how many officials of his Department were involved in the production of such guidance on the last date for which figures are available.

John Penrose: The Department works with interested parties, often through formal public consultation and the preparation of an impact assessment, to ensure that guidance is clear, effective and does not impose unnecessary regulatory burdens. Where guidance is produced under statute, the Department follows the relevant statutory provisions. The Department does not hold information on the number of officials involved in the production of such guidance.

Departmental Responsibilities

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many meetings he has had with hon. Members of each political party since May 2010.

John Penrose: The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), meets with members of all political parties on a regular basis. To advise on exact numbers of such meetings, would exceed the disproportionate cost limit. The Secretary of State also publishes a list of meetings with external organisations via the Department for Culture, Media and Sport website which can be found via the following link:
	http://www.transparency.culture.gov.uk/category/other/meetings/

Departmental Responsibilities

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will consider keeping data on the number of times (a) he and (b) officials of his Department have declined a request for a meeting from an hon. Member of each political party.

John Penrose: The Department has no plans to record these data.

Departmental Responsibilities

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport on how many occasions a request for a meeting by an hon. Member of each political party was refused by (a) a Minister in his Department directly and (b) his Department on behalf of a Minister in November 2010.

John Penrose: The Department does not keep a record of meetings declined by its Ministers or departmental officials.

Departmental Training

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much his Department has spent on training for Ministers since May 2010; and what training was provided.

John Penrose: holding answer 19 July 2011
	The Department has not made any expenditure on training for Ministers in the period since May 2010.

Lotteries: Charities

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether he has discussed with representatives of operators of charity lotteries their contribution to the big society initiative.

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether he has had discussions with charity lotteries on their potential contribution to enabling communities to provide services and functions under the big society initiative.

John Penrose: I have not had any specific discussions with operators of charity lotteries about the big society, but I recognise the valuable role that they play in generating income and raising awareness of the contribution of charities towards the big society.

Lotteries: Charities

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what steps his Department plans to take to support a more competitive environment for charity lotteries;
	(2)  if he will consult on the proposed review of monetary limits imposed upon charity lotteries by the Gambling Act 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps his Department has taken to support a more competitive environment for charity lotteries in the lottery market.

John Penrose: We are currently considering the recommendations of the Lord Hodgson report ‘Unshackling Good Neighbours’:
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/unshackling-good-neighbours
	to simplify the arrangements for charitable lotteries and raffles, although this does not relate to the monetary limits for different types of lottery. The monetary limits for society lotteries were last increased in 2009, when the proceeds per draw and maximum prize were doubled to the current £4 million and £400,000 limits, and we would certainly want to consider the impact of that change before proposing any further amendments.

Lotteries: Gambling

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will meet representatives from (a) the Lotteries Council, (b) the Hospice Lotteries Association and (c) the People's Postcode Lottery to discuss the review of monetary limits in the Gambling Act 2005.

John Penrose: I have recently received representations from the People's Postcode Lottery about the monetary limits in the Gambling Act. I would be happy to meet representatives from the Lotteries Council, the Hospice Lotteries Association and the People's Postcode Lottery to discuss this matter further.

Rural Areas

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether officials of his Department have had recent discussions with the Rural Communities Policy Unit in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

John Penrose: Officials from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport have frequent discussions with officials from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' Rural Policy Unit, the most recent of which was on 14 July 2011.

Sports: Females

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps the Government is taking to increase female participation in (a) individual and (b) team sports at (i) junior and (ii) senior age ranges.

Hugh Robertson: Sport England has strategic plans to deliver increased participation among women through the Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation (WSFF) which encourages girls and women to participate in sports. In addition to core National Governing Bodies and National Partner funding, Sport England has invested £10 million in an active women initiative. This funding is aimed at helping women in disadvantaged communities and women caring for children under 16.

Tourism

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the economic state of the tourism sectors in (a) Wales, (b) Scotland, (c) Northern Ireland and (d) England; and what steps he plans to take to assist the tourism industry.

John Penrose: VisitEngland's United Kingdom Tourism Survey (UKTS) shows the volume and value data for domestic overnight tourism across the nations of the UK in 2010, in the following table:
	
		
			 £ million 
			 Destination Trips Nights Expenditure 
			 England 96.377 288.111 16,210 
			 Scotland 12.371 44.556 2,628 
			 Wales 8.688 32.877 1,450 
			 Northern Ireland 2.600 7.777 548 
			 UK total 119.434 373.321 20,935 
		
	
	The confirmed data for inbound tourism will be published by the Office for National Statistics by the end of July.
	The 2011 figures up to the end of March for England and Great Britain are available at:
	http://www.visitengland.org/Images/March%202011-%20Commentary%20of%20results_tcm30-26862.pdf
	Scotland and Wales figures are not yet available, and Northern Ireland no longer participates in the survey.
	VisitBritain commissioned a study last year, with each of the individual nations, examining the economic value of tourism. This is available at:
	http://www.visitbritain.org/Images/Economic%20case%20for%20the%20Visitor%20Economy %20-%20Phase%202%20-%2026%20july%202010%20-%20FINAL_tcm29-14561.pdf
	A £100 million overseas tourism marketing fund has been established for tourism promotion in key markets, as a joint public-private sector initiative. This marketing programme will aim to deliver an additional 4 million visitors to the UK and £2 billion in additional visitor spend over four years. The Government's plans for promoting the growth of the visitor economy are set out in detail in the paper, “Government Tourism Policy” published in March 2011, and available at
	http://www.culture.gov.uk/publications/7896.aspx

Tourism

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with Welsh Ministers on (a) joint ventures and (b) other tourism promotion measures; and if he will make a statement.

John Penrose: The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt) and his Department's Ministers regularly meet Welsh Ministers to discuss a range of issues.
	The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has established a new £100 million overseas tourism marketing fund which is a joint public-private sector initiative. The marketing programme, which is being led by VisitBritain, aims to deliver an additional 4 million visitors to the UK and £2 billion in additional visitor expenditure over the next four years. The whole of the UK, including Wales, will benefit from the marketing campaign.
	The Government's other plans for promoting the growth of the UK's visitor economy are set out in the new Tourism Policy which was published in March 2011 and is available at:
	http://www.culture.gov.uk/publications/7896.aspx

Tourism

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what funding he has allocated for the promotion of tourism in (a) Yorkshire and (b) England in 2011-12.

John Penrose: The Department sponsors VisitBritain, which is charged with promoting Britain overseas, and VisitEngland, which is responsible for promoting England within the UK and to selected overseas markets. Total grant-in-aid in 2011-12 will be £36.642 million, with £26.98 million allocated to VisitBritain and £9.662 million allocated to VisitEngland. Funding is not apportioned by VisitBritain on a national or regional basis and it is not possible to disaggregate a specific England spend. Funding is not apportioned by VisitEngland on a regional or area-specific basis; it is not possible to disaggregate a specific Yorkshire spend, but the area is an important asset in the overall England offer and receives significant coverage in national marketing campaigns.

UK Film Council

Penny Mordaunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much was (a) invested in and (b) received as revenue from each profitable film that was (i) wholly and (ii) partly funded by the UK Film Council in each of the last five years.

Edward Vaizey: holding answer 19 July 2011
	There were no films wholly funded by the UK Film Council (UKFC) in the last five years. There were 33 film production awards made by the UK Film Council where (a) the first production award was made between 1 April 2006 and 31 March 2011, and (b) which has received recoupment income. The recoupment income for the period up to 31 March 2011, for each of these awards, is shown as follows. Additional recoupment is expected over a number of years.
	
		
			 Film Production award  (£) Recouped to March 2011  (£) Percentage 
			 A Complete History 236,230 22,871 10 
			 Adulthood 569,999 353,918 62 
			 Brideshead Revisited 1,413,888 20,885 1 
			 Bright Star 564,010 456,493 81 
			 Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff 154,000 8,929 6 
			 Centurion 1,179,553 625,201 53 
			 Donkey Punch (aka Punch) 457,490 58,931 13 
			 Faintheart (My Movie Mashup) 325,000 13,718 4 
			 Fish Tank 644,000 165,741 26 
			 Franklyn 1,080,000 44,755 4 
			 French Film 179,830 46,067 26 
			 Harry Brown 1,002,225 22,300 2 
			 How to Lose Friends and Alienate People 1,471,145 9,977 2 
			 Hush 338,650 67,144 20 
			 Jean Charles 650,000 6,938 1 
			 London to Brighton 184,566 67,639 37 
			 Made in Dagenham 921,119 732,613 80 
			 Magicians 317,500 20,529 6 
			 Man on Wire (aka Reach the Clouds) 385,000 390,081 101 
			 Nightwatching 314,618 62,420 20 
			 Nowhere Boy 1,200,000 1,039,544 87 
			 RAGE 200,000 6,759 3 
		
	
	
		
			 St Trinian's 1,432,000 1,440,017 101 
			 Streetdance 1,003,300 582,493 58 
			 Summer 467,750 11,792 3 
			 The Cottage 770,000 290,947 38 
			 The Deep Blue Sea 1,060,000 47,460 4 
			 The Escapist 779,426 266,307 34 
			 The King's Speech 1,000,000 950,000 95 
			 Tony 150,590 12,540 8 
			 Triangle 1,707,500 179,550 11 
			 Unmade Beds 433,396 19,317 4 
			 White Lightnin’ 594,483 72,919 12 
			 Total 21,716.122 8,105,133 37

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Colombia: Mining

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to his counterpart in Colombia on potential levels of population displacement in connection with the proposed development of the La Colosa gold mine in that country.

William Hague: We have not made representations to the Colombian Government on this specific development. I discussed the regulation and environmental impact of mining with the Colombian Foreign Minister on Wednesday 13 July and agreed to continue co-operation to help improve standards in this area.
	The key concerns for non-governmental organisations and the Colombian media about the proposed development are over water use and environmental impacts of the operation rather than population displacement. Currently, the development is only in the exploration phase, and the Colombian Government will need to give further approval before mining operations can begin. This will be in line with the new Mining Code which the Colombian Government are currently developing. We will continue following the development of the code to ensure that environmental provisions are robust.

Conditions of Employment

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many meetings officials of his Department have had with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on the Government's employment law review since May 2011.

Jeremy Browne: None.

Cyprus: Press Freedom

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Turkish Cypriot authorities regarding the recent shooting at the offices of the independent Africa newspaper in North Nicosia; and if he will make a statement.

David Lidington: Officials from our high commission in Nicosia have raised their concern on this issue with a number of senior contacts within the Turkish Cypriot community. I was pleased to see that the alleged gunman was swiftly apprehended by the authorities in northern Cyprus and hope that the correct course of justice will now be followed.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Diplomatic Relations

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on diplomatic relations with Democratic Republic of Congo; and if he will make a statement.

Jeremy Browne: We enjoy good diplomatic relations with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). We have an active embassy in Kinshasa which engages regularly with the Government of DRC. The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for North West Norfolk (Mr Bellingham), visited the DRC in July 2010 and has met the DRC Foreign Minister three times in the last 12 months.
	We are a major bilateral donor to DRC. The Department for International Development has recently announced an increase in development funding to provide £790 million to the DRC over the next four years.

Departmental Carbon Emissions

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 4 July 2011, Official Report, column 1029W, on departmental carbon emissions, whether the sources of low-carbon energy generation on its estate were manufactured in the UK.

David Lidington: In my answer of 4 July 2011, Official Report, column 1029W, I referred specifically to three sources of low-carbon energy generation on the FCO UK estate:
	(i) Plans to install a tri-generation heat, cooling and power plant in our King Charles street headquarters
	(ii) Solar hot water technology at our ICT building at Hanslope park
	(iii) A biomass boiler at our Wilton park Executive agency
	The tri-generation heat, cooling and power plant project at King Charles street is in the design phase. A decision has not yet been taken on which company will supply the engine for the plant.
	The solar hot water technology at Hanslope park was manufactured in Germany.
	The biomass boiler at Wilton park was manufactured in Austria.

Departmental Responsibilities

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions a request for a meeting by an hon. Member of each political party was refused by (a) a Minister in his Department directly and (b) his Department on behalf of a Minister in November 2010.

David Lidington: Ministers and officials receive a large number of invitations and meeting requests from all sources. We do not have a system to record the occasions where requests are declined and we do not consider that such a system would be value for money or worthwhile.

Embassies: St David's Day

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British embassies held St David’s day celebrations in each of the last five years; and how many are planning celebrations for St David’s day 2012.

David Lidington: The information is not held centrally and could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.
	Embassies are free to arrange events to celebrate St David’s day at their discretion. Many embassies also mark St David’s day by flying the Welsh flag, promoting Wales and St David’s day on their websites and attending events organised by local Welsh societies and the Welsh Government.

Eritrea: Religious Freedom

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the extent of religious freedom in Eritrea; and what representations his Department has made to the Eritrean government on freedom of religion.

Jeremy Browne: We are deeply concerned by the restrictions placed on religious freedoms in Eritrea, and the many reports of the detention and inhumane treatment of those belonging to a religion not officially sanctioned by the Eritrean Government. We are also worried by recent reports of an order for all members of the clergy aged under 30 to report for national service.
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office raises human rights concerns, including religious freedoms, with the Eritrean Government at every appropriate opportunity, both with the Eritrean embassy in London and with the Government in Asmara. In June this year, Her Majesty's ambassador to Eritrea raised human rights concerns with President Isaias Afwerki. Earlier this month, the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for North West Norfolk (Mr Bellingham) raised human rights, including religious freedom, with senior Eritrea Cabinet Minister Arefaine Berhe. Along with EU partners, the United Kingdom has highlighted to the Eritrean Government their human rights obligations under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
	The Eritrean Government state that the security threat stemming from Ethiopia's non-implementation of the ruling on the countries' shared border obliges Eritrea to suspend many freedoms. We recognise Eritrea's security concerns but firmly reject the notion that this justifies the current severe abuses of human rights.

India: Entry Clearances

Jane Ellison: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his Indian counterpart on the time taken to issue visas to UK nationals for visits to India.

Jeremy Browne: We have raised our concerns about the impact of Indian immigration rules on British nationals, including those of Pakistani origin and those owning property in India, with the Indian authorities on a number of occasions. Our high commissioner in New Delhi raised a number of visa issues with the Indian Home Secretary in December 2010. In addition, the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for North East Bedfordshire (Alistair Burt) raised these issues with the Indian high commissioner in February 2011.

Libya: Armed Conflict

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contingency arrangements are in place for the establishment of a new administration in Libya.

Alistair Burt: The UK considers the National Transitional Council (NTC) to be the legitimate governing authority in Libya. We welcome efforts made by the NTC to plan for the establishment of a transitional administration for the benefit of all the Libyan people. The NTC's “Road map for Libya” sets out their vision.
	A UK-led International Stabilisation Response Team (ISRT) visited Libya in June, to look at how the international community could support the Libyan people in their transition to a peaceful and stable democratic state. The Libya Contact Group in Istanbul on 15 July set out plans for how a better, open and free Libya can be created, how post-Gaddafi stabilisation can be achieved and how the international community can support this Libyan-led process under the overall leadership of the UN. Stabilisation efforts must be owned and led by the Libyan people. We will continue to co-ordinate with our international partners in supporting the Libyan people to build a stable and peaceful society.

Oil: Production

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with other oil-producing countries to increase the production of oil.

Jeremy Browne: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), has discussions on a range of issues with counterparts. The Minister of State, my noble Friend the right hon. Lord Howell of Guildford, discussed oil markets and production during his visit to the Gulf region in May, which included Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait.

Somalia: Piracy

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish the legal advice he received concerning the use of private security companies on UK commercial shipping off the horn of Africa. [R]

Michael Penning: I have been asked to reply.
	The legal issues surrounding the use of private security companies onboard UK commercial vessels are complex and advice is being sought in considering the Government’s policy on this issue. However, it is not Government policy to publish internal legal advice.

Sri Lanka

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  whether (a) the British high commissioner and (b) official staff of the High Commission met the Secretary of State for Defence during his recent visit to Sri Lanka;
	(2)  whether his officials provided briefings or advice to the Secretary of State for Defence prior to his recent visit to Sri Lanka.

Alistair Burt: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for North Somerset (Dr Fox), on 19 July 2011, Official Report, column 869W.

UN Environment Programme

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on proposals to enhance the status of the UN Environment Programme within the UN.

Jeremy Browne: The UK is committed to strengthening the institutional framework for sustainable development and enhancing the system of international environmental governance. We believe this will require an enhanced role for UNEP as part of a strong environmental pillar within the broader context of strengthening overall sustainable development governance. The UK is engaged in open discussion of broad reform options to make the current system more effective and efficient and will continue to play an active role in preparatory negotiations on this issue in the run up to Rio+20 next June where a major theme is ‘the institutional framework for sustainable development'.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Child Support Agency

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what sources of income the Child Support Agency classifies as protected earnings.

Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
	Letter from Noel Shanahan
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner as the Child Support Agency is now the responsibility of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what sources of income the Child Support Agency classifies as protected earnings.
	Following contact with your office we clarified that the question refers to ‘protected income’, the element of the child maintenance formula which determines the amount of child maintenance liability, as opposed to ‘protected earnings’ which is the amount which cannot be taken from an employed non-resident parent's wages when he or she is subject to a Deduction from Earnings Order.
	The types of income that are not taken into account in the child maintenance formula are detailed in child support regulations (Schedule 2 of the Maintenance Assessments and Special Cases Regulations 1992). In summary these are:
	Business expenses which are wholly, exclusively and necessarily incurred in the day to day performance of employment duties;
	Any compensation for personal injury and any payments from a trust fund set up for that purpose; Housing benefit; council tax benefit; disability living allowance (or a motability supplement); attendance allowance (or constant attendance allowance or exceptionally severe disablement allowance paid because of industrial injury or war injury); social fund payments; guardian's allowance and Christmas bonus. In addition to this payments made to compensate for the loss of a benefit are also disregarded in full; and
	Certain benefits which are ignored in part, for the 1993- scheme £10 per week of war disablement pension, war widow's or war widower's pension or payments made to a parent under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme is disregarded. Only a total of £20 a week in total can be disregarded from a combination of war pensions, charitable contributions and student income. This is consistent with the treatment of these pensions for means tested benefits, for which a weekly £10 disregard also applies. Certain supplementary allowances paid within the overall award of the War Disablement Pension are also not included as assessable income. These include a payment based on the need for attendance which is paid as part of a war disablement pension and “adult or child dependency allowance” within the War Disablement Pension. These are excluded from assessable income, provided that the allowance is paid directly to the parent.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Child Support Agency: Absent Parents

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what powers the Child Support Agency has to pursue self-employed absent parents (a) in and (b) outside the UK; and what assessment he has made of the adequacy of such powers.

Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
	Letter from Noel Shanahan
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner as the Child Support Agency is now the responsibility of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what powers the Child Support Agency has to pursue self-employed absent parents (a) in and (b) outside the UK; and what assessment he has made of the adequacy of such powers.
	The Commission has jurisdiction to make a maintenance calculation and collect child support maintenance only when the parent with care, the non-resident parent and the qualifying child are all habitually resident in the UK. Habitual residence is a legal concept which means more than simply ‘where you live'. A person can habitually reside in more than one country or in none. Habitual residence can continue during an absence from UK.
	The Commission retains the power to pursue a self-employed non-resident parent that lives in the UK; or who has moved overseas, for ongoing maintenance payments, but only where the non-resident parent in question is regarded as being habitually resident in the UK. The criteria for establishing jurisdiction when a non-resident parent leaves the UK is described at Section 44 of the Child Support Act 1991. There is no distinction made between an EU state and a non-EU state.
	If the non-resident parent ceases to be habitually resident, the Commission can no longer seek ongoing maintenance. We can only enforce child maintenance arrears directly if the self-employed non-resident parent holds assets within the UK, such as savings or property, which would fall within the jurisdiction of the UK courts. Since 3 August 2009, the Commission has had the power to make deductions from current or savings accounts held within the UK without the consent of the non-resident parent.
	The Commission may take action to prevent the non-resident parent disposing of his assets, from which the Commission could recover the arrears. The Commission may apply to the High Court (England and Wales) or the Court of Session (Scotland) If a non-resident parent has arrears of child support; and have disposed of, or is about to dispose of, assets with the intention of avoiding child support.
	From 18 June 2011, the Commission will have some ability under the new European legislation EC 04/2009 to enforce certain arrears of maintenance that accrued while both parents were resident in the UK where the non-resident parent now resides in another jurisdiction within the European Union. It can also assist parents with care in the process of obtaining a court order for ongoing maintenance which can then be enforced via an application to the Reciprocal Enforcement of Maintenance Orders (REMO) unit at the Office of the Official Solicitor and Public Trustee in England and Wales, and via an equivalent legal mechanism in Scotland. The new European legislation also allows the Commission to make enquiries about assets a non-resident parent may own in another EU member state for the purposes of enforcing child maintenance arrears owed in the UK.
	The government recognises that it can be difficult to secure child maintenance in circumstances where the non-resident parent is self-employed and will not willingly accept financial responsibility for their child. Supporting their, children is something parents should manage for themselves and we are taking steps to support them in doing so. However, for the limited number of cases where this proves impossible, we have plans to introduce a new, more automated system for managing child maintenance cases which should make enforcement action quicker and more effective, including against the self-employed.
	The Commission has not made any formal assessment of the full effectiveness of the powers that will be deployed to secure maintenance on the future scheme, as some of these are fairly new and others are yet to be commenced.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Child Support Agency: Absent Parents

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what powers the Child Support Agency has to verify the income of self-employed absent parents.

Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
	Letter from Noel Shanahan
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner as the Child Support Agency is now the responsibility of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what powers the Child Support Agency has to verify the income of self-employed absent parents.
	Self-employed earnings are usually taken from the self-assessment return that is submitted to HM Revenue and Customs, or from a tax calculation notice. This is consistent with the policy that, in a similar manner as for employed earners, the basis of the child maintenance liability of a self-employed earner is their taxable earnings.
	The Commission also has the power to request details of, and statements from, any accounts held by deposit takers in the name of the non-resident parent, including bank and building society accounts. If the requested information is not supplied, attempts will be made to obtain the information through phone calls, accountants, companies or partnerships with or for whom the non-resident parent works, a face-to-face interview, an inspector's visit, or a request to HM Revenue and Customs for self-assessment details where all other means to obtain the information have failed.
	If a non-resident parent fails to provide this information they may have both a default maintenance decision (that sets a default level of child maintenance that they must pay) and a fine imposed. Any information obtained in relation to a non-compliant non-resident parent's finances through our information gathering powers can be used for enforcement purposes if necessary. If, at any stage, a parent with care believes that the Commission ought to make more enquiries, they can ask that it do so, although some evidence about the matter they feel needs investigating is often required.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Child Maintenance

Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission's Survey of Child Maintenance Options Outcomes, March 2011, if he will apply the same methodology as was used to estimate the number of effective family-based arrangements after contact between a parent and Options to estimate the number of cases in which users of Options neither applied to the Child Support Agency nor made effective family-based arrangements after contacting Options.

Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
	Letter from Noel Shanahan
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission's Survey of Child Maintenance Options Outcomes March 2011 if he will apply the same methodology as was used to estimate the number of effective family-based arrangements after contact between a parent and Options to estimate the number of cases in which users of Options neither applied to the Child Support Agency nor made effective family-based arrangements after contacting Options.
	An estimated 143,000 (33 per cent) out of a total of 436,000 users of Child Maintenance Options up to end March 2011 had neither applied to the Child Support Agency nor made effective family-based arrangements after contacting the service.
	These figures are taken from the Commission's Survey of Child Maintenance Options Outcomes March 2011. Full details of the survey are available on the Commission's website at:
	http://www.childmaintenance.org/en/publications/research.html
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Child Maintenance

Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the (a) average cost per case and (b) total cost was of enforcement action used by the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission by means of (i) deduction from earnings orders, (ii) deduction orders, (iii) liability orders, (iv) distress actions, (v) charging for payments orders (Scotland), (vi) charging orders (England and Wales), (vii) orders for sale (England and Wales), (viii) bill of inhibition (Scotland), (ix) committal and (x) recovery from a deceased's estate in the last 12 months.

Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
	Letter from Noel Shanahan
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the (a) average cost per case and (b) total amount spent was of enforcement action used by the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission by means of (i) deduction from earnings orders (ii) deduction orders (iii) liability orders (iv) distress actions (v) charging for payments orders (Scotland) (vi) charging orders (England and Wales) (vii) orders for sale (England and Wales) (viii) bill of inhibition (Scotland) (ix) committal and (x) recovery from a deceased's estate in the last 12 months.
	The average cost per case handled by the Commission's legal enforcement teams in the financial year to 31 March 2011 was £1,539. The total expenditure was £62,740,826. It is not possible to break this down over the requested categories, since costs are assigned to cost centres and cost types rather than specific activities. However it is possible, as shown in the table below, to provide this cost broken down by work area.
	
		
			 Enforcement action Cost (£) 
			 Internal costs (People/premises, IT, etc.) 54,320,225 
			 Bailiffs England and Wales 656,428 - 
			 Legal costs England and Wales 3,065,330 
			 Tracing costs (HMRC) 1,864,433 
			 Debt collection agencies 1,219,691 
			 Legal costs Scotland 1,614,718 
			 Total 62,740,826 
		
	
	A further breakdown of the Commission enforcement activity can be found on page 24 of the Commission's Quarterly Summary of Statistics (QSS). The latest version of the QSS is available in the House of Commons library or online at:
	http://www.childmaintenance.org/en/publications/stats0311.html
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Child Maintenance

Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission's Survey of Child Maintenance Options Outcomes, March 2011, if he will apply the same methodology as was used to estimate the number of children benefiting from effective family-based maintenance arrangements after contact between a parent and Options to estimate the number of children in respect of whom users of Options chose after discussion with the Options Service to go to the Child Support Agency seeking to make child maintenance arrangements.

Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
	Letter from Noel Shanahan
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission's Survey of Child Maintenance Options Outcomes March 2011 if he will apply the same methodology as was used to estimate the number of children benefiting from effective family-based maintenance arrangements after contact between a parent and Options to estimate the number of children in respect of whom users of Options chose after discussion with the Options Service to go to the Child Support Agency seeking to make child maintenance arrangements.
	A total of 97,000 applications, covering 149,000 children, were made to the CSA following contact with Child Maintenance Options up to the end of March 2011.
	These figures are taken from the Commission's Survey of Child Maintenance Options Outcomes March 2011. Full details of the survey are available on the Commission's website at:
	http://www.childmaintenance.org/en/publications/research.html
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Child Maintenance

Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to the statement on the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission website that Child Maintenance Options helps over 100,000 children to benefit from family-based maintenance, what analysis the Commission has undertaken on the causal impact of contact with the Options service as a determining factor in the maintenance arrangements parents subsequently make, including the type of arrangement compared to other factors which could have influenced their decision, including (a) the quality of relationship between the parents, (b) their emotions, attitudes and beliefs and (c) affordability.

Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
	Letter from Noel Shanahan
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the statement on the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission website that Child Maintenance Options helps over 100,000 children to benefit from family-based maintenance what analysis the Commission has undertaken on the causal impact of contact with the Options service as a determining factor in the maintenance arrangements parents subsequently make including the type of arrangement compared to other factors which could have influenced their decision including (a) the quality of relationship between the parents (b) their emotions attitudes and beliefs and (c) affordability.
	The Commission has undertaken an evaluation of the Child Maintenance Options service to assess the extent to which parents made a child maintenance arrangement following contact with the helpline element of the service.
	It was not possible to use the standard method to measure the impact of the Options service, as a control group of non-users could not be identified. Instead, the research measured the “effect” of the service by comparing Jobcentre Plus callers with moderate to high use of the Options service with low users—the latter being a proxy for a standard non-user comparison group. (It was not possible to look at the “effect” of CM Options on non-Jobcentre Plus callers as too few of this group were low users of the service and therefore it was not possible to generate a credible comparison group). The two groups were matched on a wide range of factors known to predict maintenance outcomes, the only differences being the level of contact with Child Maintenance Options. Therefore any differences in outcomes between the two groups would be due to the level of interaction with the Child Maintenance Options service.
	The research found that around 7% of parents referred from Jobcentre Plus who had a ‘moderate to high’ level of interaction with the service had a maintenance arrangement in place eight or nine months after contact with the service that they would otherwise not have had. The effect of the service is not minor considering the low intensity of intervention, with most parents having just one or two short telephone calls.
	It is not easy to capture emotions, attitudes and beliefs in a quantitative study of this nature, however, we believe the large number of topic areas used in the matching process will have captured this as far as is possible. The report is available on the Commission's website at:
	http://www.childmaintenance.org/en/publications/research.html
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Child Maintenance

Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  with reference to section 20 of the Child Maintenance and Other Payments Act 2008, what progress he has made in carrying out a pilot using deduction from earnings orders as the first means of collecting child maintenance; and whether a full programme of evaluation and impact assessment of such orders has been undertaken;
	(2)  what plans he has to implement section 20 of the Child Maintenance and Other Payments Act 2008 to allow use of deduction from earnings orders as a basic method of collection of child maintenance.

Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
	Letter from Noel Shanahan
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner.
	; and
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to implement section 20 of the Child Maintenance and Other Payments Act 2008 to allow use of deduction from earnings orders as a basic method of collection of child maintenance.
	The Child Support (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No.2) Regulations 2008 introduced Deduction from Earnings Orders (DEO) as a basic means of payment of child maintenance from 27 October 2008. No piloting activity was undertaken prior to the introduction of the DEO as a standard method of payment.
	Section 20 of the 2008 Act was commenced for the purposes of making regulations on 26 September 2008 and for all other purposes on 27 October 2008.
	The Child Support (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No.2) Regulations 2008 were made consequent to the commencement of section 20 of the 2008 Act. The 2008 Regulations included DEO as a standard method of payment of child maintenance, alongside Direct Debits.
	Provision is also made for a non-resident parent to make representations that there is a good reason why they should not pay via DEO. These must be considered by the Agency prior to the imposition of a DEO. The 2008 Regulations further provide that non-resident parents have a right to appeal to a court against the imposition of a DEO.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Child Maintenance

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the Child Support Agency classifies a war disablement pension as assessable income in calculating child maintenance liability.

Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
	Letter from Noel Shanahan
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner as the Child Support Agency is now the responsibility of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Child Support Agency classifies a war disablement pension as assessable income in calculating child maintenance liability.
	The treatment of War Disablement Pensions differs for child maintenance purposes between the two statutory schemes.
	Under the 1993 child maintenance scheme the Commission includes a War Disablement Pension within a parent's assessable income as prescribed in child support law, which establishes that £10 of any War Disablement Pension is disregarded when calculating the assessable income of a parent. A non-resident parent that is in receipt of a War Disablement Pension will not be required to pay child maintenance if they have been assessed under the child support formula as having to pay £6.50 or less per week.
	Under the 2003 child maintenance scheme, if the non-resident parent is in receipt of a War Disablement Pension the Commission applies the flat rate of £5, when determining the child maintenance calculation, as prescribed in child support law.
	If a parent believes there are special circumstances that have not been captured within the standard maintenance calculation then they can apply for a variation. An application for a variation may be applied for on a number of different grounds by either the parent with care or the non-resident parent.
	One of the grounds for a variation is where the non-resident parent has income which has not been taken into account within the standard child maintenance calculation. This may apply where the non-resident parent is at the flat-rate, including cases where this is as a result of them being in receipt of a War Disablement Pension. The parent with care may apply for a variation if they believe that the non-resident parent has an income of at least £100 a week which would otherwise be taken into account for the calculation of maintenance.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Child Maintenance

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many child maintenance agreements have been enforced by the Child Support Agency through deduction of earnings orders in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many deduction of earnings orders administered by the Child Support Agency were made (a) at the request of the non-resident parent and (b) after legal proceedings in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
	Letter from Noel Shanahan
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner as the Child Support Agency is now the responsibility of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission.
	; and
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many deduction of earnings orders administered by the Child Support Agency were made (a) at the request of the non-resident parent and (b) after legal proceedings in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.
	The number of active Deduction from Earnings Orders / Requests (DEO/R) and the number in which maintenance was received in the quarter are shown in the table below. A Deduction from Earnings Request (DER) is a request for maintenance where the non-resident parent is in the armed forces. Figures only include cases administered on the CS2 and CSCS computer and exclude cases administered off the main computer system.
	The figures include cases where the preferred method of collection recorded on each case at the end of the quarter is DEO/R. Figures may therefore include cases where maintenance was requested and/or received by other methods during the quarter but where the method of collection was recorded as DEO/R at the end of the quarter. No management information exists on which DEO/Rs were enforced and which were set up at the request of the non resident parent.
	
		
			 Quarter ending  March each year Maintenance requested Maintenance received 
			 2007 143,800 110,500 
			 2008 153,900 116,400 
			 2009 148,400 116,400 
			 2010 140,900 115,000 
			 2011 140,100 113,500 
			 Notes: 1. Figures rounded to nearest 100. 2. Figures exclude cases administered off system. 
		
	
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Child Maintenance

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many deduction of earnings orders will be kept in place (a) during the migration of cases to the new child maintenance system and (b) until parents are able to make a private agreement; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
	Letter from Noel Shanahan
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many deduction of earnings orders will be kept in place (a) during the migration of cases to the new child maintenance system and (b) until parents are able to make a private agreement; and if he will make a statement.
	The process underpinning the closure of cases on the existing statutory maintenance schemes, and the movement of those cases to either a family based arrangement or application to the future statutory scheme has yet to be finalised (this includes the status of any deduction from earnings orders currently in place).
	The Government intends to draft Regulations and consult publicly on the details of the existing scheme case closure process later in the year.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Departmental Business Regulation

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many regulations his Department has introduced (a) in the six months prior to 1 September 2010 and (b) in the six months after 1 September 2010 which it has determined do not impose costs on businesses.

Chris Grayling: In the six months prior to 1 September 2010 the Department introduced 33 sets of regulations that did not impose costs on business; and 14 such sets of regulations in the six months after 1 September 2010.

Departmental Business Regulation

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many regulations that impose costs on businesses his Department has (a) introduced and (b) removed since 1 September 2010; what the net effect on the costs on businesses of such introductions and removals was; and what regulations have been excluded from the one-in one-out system because they address (i) emergencies and (ii) systemic financial risks since 1 September 2010.

Chris Grayling: Since 1 September 2010 the Department has introduced one set of regulations that imposes costs on business and removed one such set of regulations. The net effect is a reduction of costs on business.
	The Department has not excluded any regulations from the one-in one-out system because they address emergencies or systemic financial risks.

Departmental Business Regulation

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many regulations that impose costs on businesses his Department (a) introduced and (b) removed in the six months prior to 1 September 2010; and what the net effect on the costs on businesses of such introductions and removals was.

Chris Grayling: In the six months prior to 1 September 2010 the Department introduced five sets of regulations that impose costs on business, and removed none. However, the Department also amended regulation to reduce costs to business; the net effect is a reduction of costs on business.

Disability Living Allowance

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the reliability of the assessment procedures to be used in his proposed reform of disability living allowance.

Maria Miller: The purpose of the assessment we are developing for personal independence payment is to assess entitlement for the benefit in a way that is objective, evidence-based, transparent and, importantly, consistent. We are still in the process of developing the details of the assessment and in May published an initial draft of proposals for the assessment criteria. We are currently carrying out an informal consultation on the criteria, to hear the views of disabled people and their organisations on how they will work and how they might be improved. We are also testing them, by carrying out around 1,000 sample assessments over the summer. The testing will help us to better understand the likely impact of the criteria. We intend to publish a second draft of the assessment criteria in the autumn, following consideration of the consultation findings and testing results.

Disability Living Allowance

Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what guidance his Department issues on the backdating of disability living allowance claims; and whether any review of such guidelines is planned.

Maria Miller: There can be no entitlement to disability living allowance before a claim is made, or treated as made. A claim may be treated as made earlier in certain circumstances where a request has previously been made for a claim form, or the initial contact was defective as a claim to benefit. These exceptions are explained in published guidance.
	There are no plans to review guidelines relating to how claims are backdated in DLA.

Remploy: Advertising

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what reasons the board of Remploy did not undertake a consultation before advertising for a paid non-executive director; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Miller: No consultation is required to appoint a non-executive director to the board of Remploy. This is a ministerial appointment and is currently being advertised by the Department for Work and Pensions.

Remploy: Allowances

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will publish a list of expenses claimed by Remploy directors in the last financial year by (a) director and (b) type of expense; and what the cost of travel by senior managers at M1 grade and above was in that financial year.

Maria Miller: A detailed list of expenses claimed by Remploy directors on a quarterly basis from April 2009 is available on Remploy's website
	http://www.remploy.co.uk/about-us/corporategovernance.ashx
	This shows that Remploy's eight directors spent £34,000 on expenses in the financial year to March 2011, a fall of £11,400 (25%) on the previous year.
	The cost of travel by Remploy's 148 senior managers at M1 grade and above, including directors, was £1,120,000 for the financial year ending March 2011.
	Remploy operates over 100 different locations and many business streams including a mobile sales task force—to ensure that these operate effectively employees are required to travel to customers, suppliers and the Remploy locations. Remploy continues to push web conferencing to avoid unnecessary travel and has benchmarked its arrangements with hotel providers. In addition no one in Remploy travels first class.
	The Government believe all Departments, including non-departmental public bodies, need to show financial restraint in the current economic climate and scrutinise all spending to ensure value for money for the taxpayer.

Social Security Benefits

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions from which locations welfare and employment benefits are (a) administered and (b) processed by his Department.

Chris Grayling: Jobcentre Plus has 740 offices that are open to the public, 75 main benefit delivery centres and 37 contact centres. Their locations can be found within the respective tables that have been drawn up for each. The administration and processing of welfare and unemployment benefits will be undertaken at each of the locations to varying degrees.
	Table 1:
	Location of all Jobcentres that are open to the public as of 20 July 2011.
	Table 2:
	Locations of Jobcentre Plus Main Benefit Delivery Centres as of 20 July 2011.
	Table 3:
	Locations of Jobcentre Plus Contact Centres as of 20 July 2011.
	Table 4:
	Locations of DWP Pension Centres and their Respective Functions as of 20 July 2011.
	Table 5:
	Locations of DWP Disability and Carers Units and their Respective Functions as of 20 July 2011.
	The information in all of the tables above has been placed in the Library.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she plans to take to address monopolies in agricultural markets.

Edward Davey: I have been asked to reply.
	Competition matters relating to agricultural markets fall to the Office of Fair Trading to investigate and address.

Agriculture: Pay

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on wage levels in farming communities.

James Paice: DEFRA Minsters have had no direct discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer concerning wage levels in farming communities. However, the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) run by the Office for National Statistics provides data on wage levels in agriculture and allows direct comparison with other sectors.

Agriculture: Young People

Laura Sandys: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will take steps to increase the number of young people pursuing a career in agriculture.

James Paice: DEFRA's first priority in its business plan is to help improve the competitiveness of British farming which will make it a more rewarding career prospect.
	We support and encourage the activities of the Agri-Skills Forum
	http://www.agriskillsforum.co.uk/
	whose remit is to raise skill levels and improve the professionalism of the industry, making it more attractive to young people.
	In addition we are working with both the industry and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to help increase the uptake of apprenticeships by farmers to encourage young people into farming careers.

Animal Welfare: Charities

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many meetings she has had with animal welfare charities since her appointment; and what matters were discussed at each such meeting.

James Paice: The Secretary of State and her ministerial team have had a number of meetings with animal welfare charities including the RSPCA, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, Blue Cross Animal Hospital, Dogs Trust, Animal Defenders International, Captive Animals' Protection Society, Kennel Club and Born Free. These meetings have been part of a programme of stakeholder engagement to discuss a wide variety of current issues.

Animal Welfare: Slaughterhouses

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her Department's policy is on the export via UK ports of live animals for slaughter and fattening.

James Paice: The Government are committed to improving the welfare of animals. If animals are exported live, their transportation should be high quality and comply with welfare in transport rules.
	The live export trade is a lawful trade. The Government cannot unilaterally ban the trade as it would contravene EU free trade rules. Nevertheless, we would prefer livestock to be slaughtered as close as practicable to their point of production; a trade in meat and meat products being preferable to the long distance transport of livestock to slaughter.
	We will continue to ensure that the current rules on long journeys (e.g. rest periods, adequate access to water and feed) are properly enforced in this country.
	We will be making our views clear in Brussels on the importance we attach to animal welfare. We will play a full part in updating of the European law on welfare in transport and will continue to work with welfare, industry and enforcement organisations to identify where improvements might be made.

Badgers

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will estimate the size of the badger population in each local authority area in England in each of the last five years.

James Paice: Based on national population surveys of badger social groups carried out in the 1980s and 1990s, there are estimated to be between 250,000 and 300,000 badgers in Great Britain. No data are available for individual local authority areas.

Biotechnology

Laura Sandys: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to promote innovation in the biotechnology sector for the purposes of enhancing food security.

James Paice: The Government invest about £400 million per annum on agriculture and food research, including up to £90 million over five years through the Technology Strategy Board's Sustainable Agriculture and Food Platform (co-funded by DEFRA and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council), which provides a key mechanism for driving industry-led innovation to stimulate the development of new technologies to support a competitive, environmentally sustainable farming and resilient food sector.
	Government funders, industry and third sector bodies are working together through the Government's Chief Scientist Food Research Partnership and the Global Food Security programme to ensure that multi-disciplinary research is robust relevant and providing good value for money.
	DEFRA is also funding collaborative research and development and innovation activities to promote a more sustainable, resilient and competitive food chain.
	To strengthen agricultural research and innovation, the Government are actively building links and joint initiatives, for example through membership of the EU Joint Programming initiative which aims to maximise member state benefit from RD funding, and the Global Research Alliance which aims to find ways of reducing greenhouse gas through international collaboration.
	The Government also recognise that GM technology could deliver benefits providing it is used safely and responsibly, in particular as one of a range of tools to address the longer term challenges of global food security, climate change, and the need for more sustainable agricultural production.

Bovine Tuberculosis

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will estimate the number of incidents of bovine tuberculosis in (a) each local authority area in England and (b) each parliamentary constituency in England in each of the last five years.

James Paice: We are not able to provide figures by local authority area and parliamentary constituency, as figures are not broken down by these areas. TB statistics covering the last five years and including new herd incidents and numbers of cattle slaughtered under bovine TB control measures are given by county on the DEFRA website at:
	http://archive.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/farmanimal/diseases/atoz/tb/stats/county.htm

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many of the cattle slaughtered during (a) 2009 and (b) 2010 as a result of bovine tuberculosis testing subsequently proved to be negative for the disease.

James Paice: Number of cattle slaughtered as skin and interferon gamma test TB reactors in England:
	2009: 24,500
	2010: 24,213.
	All TB reactors are regarded as infected and European and national legislation require all such animals to be slaughtered. Those cattle are then subject to post mortem examination and a proportion of them will also be sampled for laboratory culture, but this is not to prove or disprove the disease status of the animal. The primary purpose of post mortem and bacteriological culture of TB test reactors is to assess the severity of infection and identify the strain of the causative bacterium—this is useful for epidemiological investigations and helps to support subsequent outbreak control efforts. TB is a chronic and insidious infectious disease with potentially long incubation periods. In the early stages of this disease it is often not possible to see lesions with the naked eye, and due to the fastidious nature of the TB bacterium (which may be present in low numbers in the affected organs) it is not always possible to culture it from tissue samples. It is therefore wrong to consider all TB reactors that fail to disclose evidence of infection in the slaughterhouse or in the laboratory as being ‘false positives’ or ‘negative for the disease’.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of scientific advice on the effectiveness of a badger cull in reducing rates of bovine tuberculosis in England.

James Paice: The results of the Randomised Badger Culling Trial (RBCT) showed that badger culling, when done on a sufficient scale in a widespread, co-ordinated and efficient way, and over a sustained period of time, would reduce the incidence of bovine TB in cattle in high incidence areas.
	The evidence base on the effects of culling badgers on TB incidence in cattle was recently assessed at a meeting between DEFRA’s chief scientific adviser, chief veterinary officer and a panel of independent experts. The key conclusions from this meeting, which includes the most up to date results of the ongoing post-RBCT analysis were recently published on the DEFRA website at
	http://archive.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/farmanimal/diseases/atoz/tb/documents/bovinetb-scientificexperts-110404.pdf

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what date she expects the oral vaccine against tuberculosis in badgers to be available; and if she will make a statement.

James Paice: An oral badger vaccine is in development but is still many years away. It is therefore not possible to say with any certainty if and when an oral badger vaccine might be available for use in the field.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Vaccination

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what financial support her Department plans to provide towards research and development of vaccines against tuberculosis in (a) badgers and (b) cattle in each of the next four financial years.

James Paice: Over the next four years there is a suite of research projects under way with many reaching their specified conclusion date in 2014-15. We are currently considering options for the scale and nature of successor projects, and accordingly the figures set out below reflect the costs associated with projects currently under way.
	
		
			 £ million 
			  Badger vaccines Cattle vaccine and associated diagnostics: 
			 2011-12 2.60 2.14 
			 2012-13 2.02 2.46 
			 2013-14 2.71 2.51 
			 2014-15 0.11 2.16 
		
	
	Further projects may also be commissioned which could alter these estimated amounts, especially in the later years.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Vaccination

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what financial support her Department has provided for research and development of vaccines against tuberculosis in (a) badgers and (b) cattle in each of the last five financial years.

James Paice: Over the last five years, DEFRA has spent the below amounts on cattle and badger vaccines research and development:
	
		
			 £ million 
			  Cattle vaccine and associated diagnostics Badger vaccines (including injectable and oral vaccines) 
			 2010-11 2.70 2.78 
			 2009-10 3.70 3.14 
			 2008-09 3.20 2.18 
			 2007-08 3.70 2.50 
			 2006-07 3.18 2.41

Carbon Emissions: Business

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Hartlepool (Mr Wright) of 27 October 2010, Official Report, column 319W, when she plans to announce her decision on whether to introduce the mandatory reporting of carbon dioxide emissions by UK listed companies; and if she will make a statement.

James Paice: We will announce a decision on the corporate reporting of greenhouse gas emissions in the autumn.

Carbon Emissions: Cattle

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research her Department is supporting on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from cattle.

James Paice: The Government, in partnership with the devolved Administrations, have invested £12.6 million over a four and half year period to improve the Agriculture Greenhouse Gas Inventory R and D Platform. Through a series of projects, including improving the accuracy of calculating greenhouse gas emissions produced from cattle, this research will strengthen our understanding of emissions produced on farm and better capture the positive actions that farmers are currently taking.
	DEFRA has recently supported research at the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) and Reading University on nutritional interventions to reduce methane emissions from cattle (Projects LS3656 and AC0209). This showed that feeding:
	high-sugar grass could reduce an animal's methane emissions by 20%;
	crushed rapeseed could reduce methane production per dairy cow by 15% and methane per litre of milk by 20%.
	The research also suggests farmers can reduce GHGs by increasing milk yield, avoiding overfeeding animals with food high in nitrogen, feeding animals once a day and increasing dietary starch and oil.
	In partnership with industry, DEFRA is funding research (Projects LK686 and LK687) on genetic improvement of perennial ryegrass and red/white clover to increase nitrogen-use efficiency in the rumen and reduce N-losses from pastures and silo.

Crops: Droughts

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what programmes to develop drought-resistant or tolerant crops are being funded by her Department.

James Paice: DEFRA funds research on the impact of water shortages on farming through the Farming and Food Science Sustainable Water Management R and D programme, which includes research and development to develop crop varieties with improved water-use efficiency. These projects are shown in the following table.
	DEFRA also funds broader Crop Genetic Improvement Networks (on cereals, oilseed rape, pulses, vegetables, grasses, biomass crops) which deliver tools and knowledge to underpin plant breeding and the development of varieties with improved performance such as efficient use of water and nutrients.
	
		
			 Project code End date Title 
			 AC0314 30 April 2013 Identification of important crop traits for adaptation to climate change 
			 HL0187LFV 31 March 2012 Improving water use efficiency and fruit quality in field grown strawberry 
			 WU0106 30 June 2011 Generic approaches to increasing water use efficiency (WUE) in crops by enhancing abscisic acid biosynthesis 
			 WU0107 31 March 2012 Determination of the response of strawberry to water-limited conditions, identification of quantitative trait loci (QTL) and development of molecular markers 
			 WU0115 31 March 2014 Genomics tools for pre-selection of water-use efficiency in top fruit rootstocks 
			 WU0121 31 March 2012 An Integrated Approach to Increasing Water Use Efficiency and Drought Tolerance of Wheat Production in UK 
			 IF0145 31 March 2013 Understanding and dissecting the genetic control of key “environmental impact” traits in forage grasses and legumes 
			 LK0688 31 March 2013 Development of productive and persistent high quality forage grasses and white clover with increased water-use-efficiency and resilience to summer droughts 
			 IF0142 30 September 2011 Sequencing the gene space of potato chromosome IV, comparative analysis with tomato and development of a gene based mapping platform (contribution to a Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council project-funding of SCRI component) 
			 IF0157 31 March 2012 Leafy Vegetable Genetic Improvement Network (VeGIN 1): Pre-breeding research to support sustainable farming of leafy vegetables and salads 
			 IFO158 31 March 2012 Vegetable Genetic Improvement Network (VeGIN 2): Pre-breeding research to support sustainable farming of carrot and onion 
			 IF0146 30 November 2013 The Wheat Genetic Improvement Network (WGIN) - Improving the environmental footprint of farming through crop genetics and targeted traits analysis 
			 IF0147 31 January 2014 DEFRA Pulse Crop Genetic Improvement Network 
		
	
	
		
			 IF0144 31 March 2013 OREGIN - Pre-breeding research to support climate change adaptation and reduction of the environmental footprint of oilseed rape 
			 LK09129 15 September 2014 Exploiting novel genes to improve resource use efficiency in wheat

Dairy Farming

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the potential effects on the dairy sector of the implementation of the provisions of the draft Groceries Code Adjudicator Bill.

James Paice: The Groceries Code Adjudicator will monitor and enforce the Groceries Supply Code of Practice (GSCOP). This Code covers relationships between direct suppliers to retailers and their customers. Therefore, in the dairy sector we expect that the Groceries Code Adjudicator Bill will ensure fair relationships and greater certainty for processors of raw milk.
	Although the GSCOP does not apply to indirect suppliers and will not normally provide for the relationship between dairy farmers and processors, the Adjudicator will be able to receive complaints from indirect suppliers. This will allow concerns from milk producers to be investigated where the Adjudicator sees potential breaches of the Code which affect dairy farmers.

Departmental Regulation

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what regulations her Department introduced between 1 March 2011 and 31 May 2011; and what the estimated costs of implementation for those affected were in each case.

James Paice: The Department made the following 31 statutory instruments between 1 March 2011 and 31 May 2011:
	1. The Poultry Health Scheme (Fees) Regulations 2011 (SI 2011/1194)
	2. The Fruit Juices and Fruit Nectars (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 (SI 2011/1135)
	3. The Veterinary Medicines (Amendment) Regulations 2011 (SI 2011/1116)
	4. The Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011 (SI 2011/988)
	5. The Aquatic Animal Health (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 (SI 2011/981)
	6. The Marine Licensing (Notice Appeals) Regulations 2011 (SI 2011/936)
	7. The Marine Licensing (Licence Application Appeals) Regulations 2011 (SI 2011/934)
	8. The British Waterways Board (Kennet and Avon Canal) (Reclassification) Order 2011 (SI 2011/889)
	9. The Animal By-products (Enforcement) (England) Regulations 2011 (SI 2011/881)
	10. The Sea Fishing (Penalty Notices) (England) Order 2011 (SI 2011/758)
	11. The Marine Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 (SI 2011/735)
	12 The Smoke Control Areas (Authorised Fuels) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 (SI 2011/715)
	13. The Smoke Control Areas (Exempted Fireplaces) (England) Order 2011 (SI 2011/714)
	14. The Flood Risk Management Overview and Scrutiny Committee (England) Regulations 2011 (SI 2011/697)
	15. The Environment Agency (Levies) (England and Wales) Regulations 2011 (SI 2011/696)
	16. The Regional Flood and Coastal Committees (England and Wales) Regulations 2011 (SI 2011/695)
	17. The Flood and Water Management Act 2010 (Commencement No. 3 and Transitional Provisions) Order 2011 (SI 2011/694)
	18. The Marine Licensing (Delegation of Functions) Order 2011 (SI 2011/627)
	19. The Conservation of Habitats and Species (Amendment) Regulations 2011 (SI 2011/625)
	20. The Marine and Costal Access Act 2009 (Transitional and Savings Provisions) Order 2011 (SI 2011/603)
	21. The Marine Licensing (Application Fees) Regulations 2011 (SI 2011/564)
	22. The Seeds (National Lists of Varieties) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 (SI 2011/464)
	23. The Seed Marketing Regulations 2011 (SI 2011/463)
	24. The Bovine Semen (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 (SI 2011/454)
	25. The Poultrymeat (England) Regulations 2011 (SI 2011/452)
	26. The Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 (SI 2001/451)
	27. The Marine Licensing (Register of Licensing Information) Regulations 2011 (SI 2011/424)
	28. The Petroleum Act 1998 (Specified Pipelines) Order 2011 (SI 2011/423)
	29. The Marine Licensing (Exempted Activities) Order 2011 (SI 2011/409)
	30. The Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (Amendment) Regulations 2011 (SI 2011/405)
	31. The Inshore Fisheries and Conservation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2011 (SI 2011/177)
	Information on the equivalent annual net cost to business of domestic regulations introduced between 1 January and 30 June 2011 was published in the Government’s “One-in, One-out: Statement of New Regulation” published in April 2011 and which is available to view at:
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/better-regulation/docs/o/11-p96a-one-in-one-out-new-regulation.pdf
	The overall effect of DEFRA regulations was an equivalent annual net saving to business of £28,000.

Departmental Regulation

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many regulations 
	(1)  her Department has introduced (a) in the six months prior to 1 September 2010 and (b) in the six months after 1 September 2010 which it has determined do not impose costs on businesses;
	(2)  that impose costs on businesses her Department has (a) introduced and (b) removed since 1 September 2010; what the net effect on the costs on businesses of such introductions and removals was; and what regulations have been excluded from the one-in one-out system because they address (i) emergencies and (ii) systemic financial risks since 1 September 2010;
	(3)  that impose costs on businesses her Department (a) introduced and (b) removed in the six months prior to 1 September 2010; and what the net effect on the costs on businesses of such introductions and removals was.

James Paice: The one-in, one-out regulatory management system, although announced in September, did not come into force till January 2011.
	DEFRA does not hold information on the net cost to business of regulations introduced or removed prior to 1 September 2010. Such information was not collected routinely at that time and the cost of compiling it would be disproportionate.
	A list of regulatory measures introduced or removed in the first half of 2011 can be found in the Statement of New Regulation in the Libraries of the House.
	There have been no DEFRA regulations excluded from the one-in, one-out system because they address (i) emergencies and (ii) systemic financial risks since 1 September 2010.
	In the six months after 1 September 2010, the following five regulations were introduced which do not impose costs on businesses:
	1. The Flood and Water Management Act 2010 (Commencement No. 2) Order 2011 (SI 2011/95)
	2. The Flood and Water Management Act 2010 (Commencement No. 3 and Transitional Provisions) Order 2011 (SI 2011/694)
	3. The Sea Fishing (Penalty Notices) (England) Order 2011 (SI 2011/758)
	4. The Seeds (National Lists of Varieties) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 (SI 2011/464)
	5. The Flood and Water Management Act 2010 (Commencement No. 4) Order 2011.

Dogs

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate her Department has made of the number of molosser dogs in the UK.

James Paice: No such estimate has been made by DEFRA.

EU Grants and Loans

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions her Department has had with the European Commission on the matching criteria for Leader funding.

James Paice: Officials have had discussions in the European Commission's Rural Development Committee on revised guidance on the management of the Leader approach, which includes some potential simplifications. There have been no specific discussions on match funding. Officials are now assessing the implications of the proposed changes to the guidance and will be discussing these with local action groups.

EU Grants and Loans

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what arrangements her Department has in place for the transition of Leader funding applications from regional development agencies to her Department from 1 July 2011.

James Paice: Management of the Leader approach and the ongoing Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) delivery functions transferred from the regional development agencies to DEFRA on 1 July. DEFRA RDPE delivery teams are in touch with local action groups to ensure a smooth transition to the new delivery arrangements that minimises disruption to customers and maintains the momentum of expenditure to improve agricultural competitiveness and support rural businesses and rural communities.

Food Supply

Laura Sandys: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent meetings she has had with ministerial colleagues to discuss threats to UK food security.

James Paice: In working towards our commitment to address the issue of food security, DEFRA's ministerial team have taken many opportunities to raise our food security agenda with ministerial colleagues. We discuss this issue at Cabinet and other regular ministerial meetings.
	DEFRA officials also regularly discuss food security and specific issues with their counterparts in other Government Departments.

Food: Exports

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with her international counterparts on the elimination of export bans of foodstuffs.

James Paice: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement made on 28 June 2011, Official  Report, column 44WS, by the Secretary of State about the recent meeting of G20 agricultural Ministers.

Forestry Commission: Manpower

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many Forestry Commission staff at each payband work in its offices at (a) Coleford, (b) Mamhead, (c) Wendover, (d) Bedgebury, (e) Sherwood, (f) Market Rasen, (g) Tangham, (h) Fineshade, (i) Rothbury, (j) Hamsterley, (k) Wheldrake, (l) Peil Wyke, (m) Delamere, (n) Ludlow, (o) Clifton Moor, (p) Dunsop Bridge, (q) Bourne Wood, (r) Silverstone, (s) Bentley and (t) Bellever.

James Paice: holding answer 20 July 2011
	The following table gives details by pay band of staff who are employed by Forestry Commission England and are based at each of the office locations listed. Many staff spend a considerable amount of their time away from these bases on operational activities, however, for example looking after the public forest estate or delivering Forestry Commission England’s grants and regulatory activities.
	
		
			  Forestry commission pay band 
			  1 2 3 4 5 5(op) 6a 6a(op) 6b 7 
			 Location           
			 Coleford 1 0 1 6 5 10 3 7 21 1 
			 Mamhead 0 1 1 1 4 6 0 0 10 0 
			 Wendover 0 0 0 0 0 4 2 3 6 0 
			 Bedgebury 0 0 1 5 3 6 5 3 19 0 
			 Sherwood 0 2 2 4 5 7 6 10 16 3 
			 Market Rasen 0 0 0 1 1 2 2 1 2 0 
			 Tangham 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 2 3 0 
			 Fineshade 0 0 0 1 3 5 2 3 7 3 
			 Rothbury 0 1 1 0 1 4 0 1 5 1 
			 Hamsterley 0 0 0 0 0 4 1 2 6 2 
			 Wheldrake (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			 Peil Wyke 0 1 1 1 1 4 2 1 9 0 
			 Delamere 0 0 1 2 1 3 4 6 7 0 
			 Ludlow 0 0 0 1 0 2 2 2 8 1 
			 Clifton Moor (2)— (2)— (2)— (2)— (2)— (2)— (2)— (2)— (2)— (2)— 
			 Dunsop Bridge 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 2 0 
			 Bourne Wood 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 
			 Silverstone 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 
			 Bentley 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 3 0 0 
			 Bellever (3)— (3)— (3)— (3)— (3)— (3)— (3)— (3)— (3)— (3)— 
			 (1) Closed in May 2011 (2) Closed in April 2011 (3) No staff based at this location

Land: Contamination

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funds her Department has received under Heading 1 of the EU Budget in respect of the decontamination of brownfield sites in the latest period for which figures are available; and when she expects further such funds to be received.

Mark Prisk: I have been asked to reply 
	as the Minister responsible for the relevant EU Budget Heading—1b (which includes Structural and Cohesion Funds, the main programme which supports the decontamination of brownfield land). The information is drawn from reported action under Code 50 of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)—“Rehabilitation of industrial sites and contaminated land”.
	As at 30 June 2011, the UK had contracted to pay a total of £41,958,337 (30 June Euro to £ sterling conversion rate) during the budget period 2007 to 2013. Further payments could be made during the current budget period, subject to the eligibility of specific projects.

Rural Development Programme: Yorkshire and the Humber

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what arrangements are in place to ensure the use of funding available to Yorkshire and the Humber under the Rural Development Programme for England.

James Paice: We are currently reviewing the budgets for future years of the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) as part of the move to a more nationally consistent approach to delivery for the rest of the programme, and it is our intention that available budgets for Axes 1, 3 and 4 of the programme should be fully utilised. The Yorkshire and the Humber region's RDPE resource allocation for 2011-12 is £12.35 million.

Stray Dogs

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many local authorities in England are under a statutory requirement to provide a stray dog service.

James Paice: Under sections 149 and 150 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, local authorities in England and Wales have a duty to provide a service to collect stray dogs. Under the 1990 Act local authorities that have this duty are all district councils, all London borough councils, the common council of the City of London and the council of the Isles of Scilly.

Trees: Disease Control

Angie Bray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures her Department has taken in response to infestations of trees and woodlands; what measures have been taken in relation to outbreaks of oak processionary moth; and what measures have been taken in relation to trees in the Ealing ward of Hanger Hill.

James Paice: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Richmond Park (Zac Goldsmith) on 7 July 2010, Official Report, column 283W.
	The Forestry Commission has powers to control pests under the Plant Heath (Forestry) Act 2005. The Forestry Commission is also working with the Food and Environment Research Agency on a proposal for oak processionary moth to be listed as a quarantine pest under European plant health legislation. While this proposal is being considered, our national measures remain in force.
	The strategy to deal with oak processionary moth has moved from eradication to one of containment in the west London outbreak area. This is because the moth is now established in mature trees where it is no longer feasible to locate and destroy the pest effectively. A 10km buffer zone has been set up outside the outbreak area within which regular surveys will be conducted and statutory control notices will ensure that any new infestations are eradicated.
	The Ealing Ward of Hanger Hill now lies within the containment zone.

Wildlife: Circuses

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what (a) options she has considered and (b) steps she plans to take to give effect to the resolution of the House of 23 June 2011 on wild animals and circuses.

James Paice: The Government will listen to the view of the House of Commons and is sympathetic to the motion for a ban, agreed to on 23 June 2011. We will continue to look carefully at how this could be introduced: there are legal difficulties that we cannot ignore but which we are continuing to explore.
	Given that a ban is not an immediate possibility, we will proceed with the licensing regime described below, which will stop circuses from using wild animals unless they provide appropriate welfare standards. In the meantime, circus animals, like most animals under the control of man, are protected from unnecessary suffering and poor welfare by the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
	The licensing regime will lay down appropriate standards to protect the welfare of the 39 (approximately) animals in circuses in the UK. This means we will be able to act quickly to tackle those circuses that fail to maintain appropriate welfare standards for each animal. A full public consultation exercise on the proposed regulations will be carried out shortly.
	Any circuses in England that wish to have wild animals such as tigers, lions and elephants performing in them will need to demonstrate that they meet high animal welfare standards for each animal before they can be granted a licence to keep those animals. The licensing scheme will be enforced through inspections by Government-approved vets and it is our intention that the costs will be borne by the industry.
	As this work is under way, we will continue to explore ways of overcoming the legal obstacles of introducing a ban of live animals in line with the resolution of the House of Commons.

PRIME MINISTER

Andrew Coulson

John Cryer: To ask the Prime Minister which company conducted the background check on Mr Andy Coulson prior to his appointment as Director of Communications.

David Cameron: A background check was conducted prior to Mr Coulson's appointment as Director of Communications to the Conservative Party in 2007. On appointment to the Civil Service, special advisers are security cleared to the appropriate level.

Andrew Coulson

Ann McKechin: To ask the Prime Minister whether he or any member of his staff have had any discussions with Mr Andy Coulson regarding the evidence given by Mr Coulson in the case of Thomas Sheridan at Glasgow High Court in 2010.

David Cameron: The evidence Mr Coulson gave related to his former employment and is a matter for Mr Coulson.

Andrew Coulson

Helen Goodman: To ask the Prime Minister whether Mr Andrew Coulson made any declaration of conflict of interest under paragraph 15B of the Model Contract for Special Advisers.

David Cameron: No.

Andrew Coulson

Helen Goodman: To ask the Prime Minister what period of notice Mr Andrew Coulson gave before he left employment in 10 Downing Street.

David Cameron: Mr Coulson notified me of his intention to leave. This was announced on 21 January 2011 and he left on 31 January 2011.

Andrew Coulson

Helen Goodman: To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the level of compliance with paragraph 15E of the Model Contract for Special Advisers in the case of Mr Andrew Coulson.

David Cameron: Mr Coulson as a special adviser was bound by the requirements of the Model Contract and Code of Conduct for Special Advisers, and I am not aware that anyone is suggesting that he did not act in accordance with those requirements.

Media Ownership

John Mann: To ask the Prime Minister on what date his Chief of Staff informed the Home Office about the alleged involvement of the News of the World with criminals.

David Cameron: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 13 July 2011, Official Report, column 302-03.

Media Ownership

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  whether he has discussed News Corporation's proposed acquisition of BSkyB with the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport between 23 December 2010 and 12 July 2011;
	(2)  whether he discussed News Corporation's proposed acquisition of BSkyB with James Murdoch and Rebekah Brooks at dinner on 23 December 2010;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the compatibility with the Ministerial Code of his attendance at dinner with James Murdoch and Rebekah Brooks on 23 December 2010;
	(4)  whether he notified the Cabinet Secretary of his intention to attend a dinner with James Murdoch and Rebekah Brooks on 23 December 2010; and if so what advice he received;
	(5)  whether his officials or advisers have discussed News Corporation's proposed acquisition of BSkyB with (a) the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, and (b) any of his officials or advisers between 23 December 2010 and 12 July 2011.

David Cameron: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 3 February 2011, Official Report, column 885W, and to the list of proprietors, senior executives and editors of media organisations that I have met since the general election which was published on Friday 15 July 2011. This is available on the No. 10 website:
	http://www.number10.gov.uk/new/pm-pubished-details-of-visitors-to-chequers/
	I had no role in the BSkyB takeover nor did I seek to influence the decisions of the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt).

Departmental Responsibilities

Chris Ruane: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  how many meetings he has had with hon. Members of each political party since May 2010;
	(2)  if he will consider keeping data on the number of times he has declined a request for a meeting from an hon. Member of each political party.

David Cameron: I have meetings with hon. and right hon. Members of different parties on a range of subjects.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Democratic Republic of Congo: Females

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what programmes funded by his Department support the empowerment of women in Democratic Republic of Congo; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Duncan: Women and girls lie at the heart of DFID's Operational Plan for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). We are empowering women to play a stronger role in decisions affecting their lives. Our Community Recovery programme, for example, has increased the elected representation of women on village decision-making committees from almost zero to 27%. We are also supporting efforts to ensure that women play a full and influential part in upcoming national elections.
	We are also seeking real results for women and girls in our support to education, where we plan to get 225,000 more girls into primary school and reduce dropout rates from 8% to 5%. We are also making maternal and reproductive health services available to hundreds of thousands of women, including meeting the contraceptive needs of some 235,000 women and girls and reducing the risks of childbirth by ensuring that more than 100,000 births a year are attended by skilled health personnel. At least 8.5 million women and children will be protected from malaria over the next few years as a result of our funding of a mass distribution programme for insecticide-treated bed nets.

Departmental Carbon Emissions

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the carbon dioxide emissions from his Department in (a) June 2010 and (b) June 2011.

Alan Duncan: The carbon emissions resulting from energy use in the Department for International Development's UK estate for June 2010 was 286 tonnes. The corresponding figure for June 2011 was 214 tonnes.

Overseas Representation

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development in which countries his Department has a permanent presence.

Alan Duncan: The Department for International Development (DFID) has a permanent presence in the following countries:
	Afghanistan
	Bangladesh
	Barbados
	Belgium
	Brazil
	Burma
	Burundi
	China
	Democratic Republic of Congo
	Ethiopia
	France
	Gambia
	Ghana
	Guyana
	India
	Indonesia
	Iraq
	Italy
	Jamaica
	Jordan
	Kenya
	Kosovo
	Kyrgyzstan
	Liberia
	Malawi
	Montserrat
	Mozambique
	Nepal
	Nigeria
	Occupied Palestine Territory
	Pakistan
	Rwanda
	Sierra Leone
	South Africa
	South Sudan
	St Helena
	Sudan
	Switzerland
	Tajikistan
	Tanzania
	Thailand
	Uganda
	United Kingdom
	United States of America
	Vietnam
	Zambia
	Zimbabwe.
	The list includes countries where DFID has a small permanent representation within international development institutions such as the United Nations, World Bank and European Union.

Departmental Lost Property

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what property has been (a) lost and (b) stolen from his Department in the last 12 months; and what the cost of replacement was.

Alan Duncan: The Department for International Development's (DFID) central records show the following items were reported as either lost or stolen, together with estimated replacement costs, in the year ended 31 March 2011:
	
		
			 Items Number of items Total estimated replacement cost (£) 
			 Memory sticks 2 20 
			 Laptops 14 3,780 
			 Mobile phone 1 53 
			 Vehicle 1 1,490 
		
	
	Of the items reported as lost or stolen one laptop was identified as being stolen from Palace Street and one vehicle was taken from an overseas office location. The remaining items were all identified as being lost or stolen out of office hours and away from DFID premises.
	The Department has policies in place requiring all instances of lost or stolen items to be thoroughly investigated.

Departmental Responsibilities

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many meetings he has had with hon. Members of each political party since May 2010.

Andrew Mitchell: The Department for International Development (DFID) is unable to provide this information without incurring disproportionate costs. My Ministers and I regularly meet MPs of all parties to discuss DFID-related issues on which they have a concern or interest.

Departmental Responsibilities

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will consider keeping data on the number of times (a) he and (b) officials of his Department have declined a request for a meeting from an hon. Member of each political party.

Andrew Mitchell: Yes.
	I will not consider keeping data on the number of times DFID officials have declined a meeting with hon. Members of political parties as, in normal business, I would expect hon. Members to contact Ministers, rather than officials.

Developing Countries: Cotton

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his policy is on the statement on cotton issued by the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States on 27 January 2010.

Stephen O'Brien: The African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group made a statement on 27 January 2011 calling for an early resolution to the issue of cotton subsidies in the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The UK Government fully support the ACP Group position.
	The UK Government are at the forefront of countries pushing for the removal of cotton subsidies as part of the Doha Development Agenda. We have and will continue to lobby the US bilaterally to remove their cotton subsidies.

National Security Council

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many meetings he has had with the National Security Adviser since the creation of the National Security Council.

Andrew Mitchell: I meet regularly with the National Security Adviser.

Overseas Aid

Steven Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations he has received on placing his Department's budget on a statutory footing.

Alan Duncan: We have not received any representations regarding placing the budget of the Department for International Development on a statutory footing.
	We have received a number of representations regarding the coalition Government's commitment to enshrine the commitment to spend 0.7% of national income as official development assistance from 2013 onwards. As the Prime Minister has made clear, the Government intend to place that commitment on to a statutory footing as soon as the parliamentary timetable allows.

Pakistan: Overseas Aid

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what aid he plans to give to Pakistan in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13 and (c) 2013-14.

Andrew Mitchell: The amount of aid the Department for International Development (DFID) plans to give to Pakistan over the coming years is set out in the DFID Pakistan Operational Plan 2011-15. This increased support will be linked to the Government of Pakistan's own progress on reform.
	
		
			  Resource (£000) 
			 2011-12 267,000 
			 2012-13 267,000 
			 2013-14 412,000

UN Women: Finance

Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 13 July 2011, Official Report, column 348W, on UN Women, if he will consider increasing the annual contribution of his Department to UN Women to £40 million of core funding for each of the next two years in order to ensure the effectiveness of the agency's work.

Andrew Mitchell: No.

TRANSPORT

Akhona Geveza

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department has taken steps to investigate the death of the maritime cadet Akhona Geveza on the UK-registered vessel Safmarine Kariba on 24 June 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Penning: The Croatian authorities undertook an investigation into the death of the South African cadet as the body was found in Croatian waters.
	The DFT and MCA have liaised with South African officials on a number of occasions; however, the Department has no jurisdiction to launch a separate formal investigation into the case.

Departmental Photographs

Julie Hilling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department has spent on ministerial (a) photoshoots and (b) videos since May 2010.

Norman Baker: holding answer 19 July 2011
	The information is as follows:
	(a)£550.00 has been spent by the central Department on ministerial photoshoots/photographs. This all relates to photos which had been pre-arranged to be taken of the new ministerial team in May 2010. Such practices have been discontinued.
	The Highways Agency spent an additional £400.00.
	(b) The Department has two in-house staff responsible for video output for the Department and its Agencies, which includes production of ministerial videos as well as training and other (internal) purposes. Their use allows ministerial speeches to be provided remotely, which both supports the Department’s promotion of the alternatives to travel concept, and saves considerable money on travel costs.
	External costs for the hire of specialist equipment for the production of videos in which Ministers appeared was £6,987.70.
	All figures quoted are exclusive of VAT.

Departmental Procurement

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many procurement contracts his Department has awarded to small businesses since May 2010.

Norman Baker: My Department has awarded 145 procurement contracts to small businesses since May 2010, where a small business is defined as one having fewer than 250 employees.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what strategic framework his Department has developed for the delivery of its core functions during the comprehensive spending review period.

Norman Baker: The Department for Transport's strategic priorities are clearly set out in our business plan, a refreshed version of which was published in May. As the plan sets out, our strategy is to deliver a transport system that is an engine for economic growth but one that is also increasingly de-carbonised. The priorities set out in the plan include targeted investments and initiatives to improve transport links, address congestion and stimulate green growth. They will be delivered by devolving power wherever possible, making our networks (including the railway) more efficient and looking for every opportunity to use de-regulatory means to achieve our goals.

Exports: Biofuels

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department will commission research to examine the UK's capacity to export biofuel overseas; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Baker: holding answer 24 May 2011
	The Department for Transport will continue to monitor the impact of the renewable transport fuels obligation on the UK biofuels market and UK business.
	Additionally, annual statistics on commodity balances for renewables and waste are published by the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC). The statistics include export and import values for liquid biofuels. The DECC data are available at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/energy_stats/source/renewables/renewables.aspx
	(Renewables and waste: commodity balances (DUKES 7.1-7.3))
	UK biofuels production data (2009) can be found in the UK Biofuels production abstract, on the following website:
	https://restats.decc.gov.uk/cms/welcome-to-the-restats-web-site/
	The 2010 data will be available on 28 July 2011.

Freight

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of trends in modal shift between road freight and rail freight (a) in each year since the introduction of the Mode Shift Revenue Support Grant and (b) in the 10 preceding years.

Michael Penning: The information is as follows:
	(a) No assessment has been made of trends in modal shift between road freight and rail freight since the introduction of the Mode Shift Revenue Support scheme in April 2010. We intend to conduct an assessment when sufficient data are available to detect any shift in trend.
	(b) Data on domestic freight transport by mode is compiled annually. Data on the 10 years to 2009 are available in Table 4.1 of “Transport Statistics Great Britain: 2010”
	http://www2.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/tsgb/index.html

Freight

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Mode Shift Revenue Support Grant in encouraging modal shift of freight.

Michael Penning: An assessment of the estimated number of lorry journeys removed and the benefits this has delivered has been undertaken for the first full year of the Mode Shift Revenue Support scheme. This indicates that over 900,000 lorry journeys were removed from Britain's roads as a result of MSRS grant support in the 12 months to 31 March 2011. Approximately 130,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions were thus avoided.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make an assessment of the implications of the findings of the report on the productive use of rail travel time and value of travel time saving for travellers in the course of work commissioned by his Department for the High Speed 2 project.

Philip Hammond: holding answer 5 July 2011
	I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I have given her today (UIN 62769).

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had on the construction of (a) stations, (b) trains and (c) track for the High Speed 2 network; and which companies have indicated an interest in bidding for each project.

Philip Hammond: holding answer 11 July 2011
	No such discussions have taken place. As the Department is currently consulting the public on the principle of High Speed Two (HS2) and is yet to seek powers from Parliament, it would be inappropriate at this stage to conduct discussions, or to receive expressions of interest, of a commercial nature about the construction of stations or the procurement of trains or track for HS2.

Liverpool Cruise Terminal

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the consultation document on the proposal to remove objections to lifting a grant condition regarding the use of the City of Liverpool Cruise Terminal published on 7 July 2011, whether he assessed the value for money of the proposed partial repayment of public funds; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Penning: This proposal reflects a judgment that weighs the prospective benefits from extending the use of the terminal, together with partial repayment of grant, against considerations of fair competition with other terminals. The local and regional benefits, for which the grants were originally paid, could increase if turnaround use is allowed. The consultation is an opportunity for anyone to express views on this.

Ministerial Meetings

Stephen Pound: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what (a) meetings and (b) other engagements (i) Ministers and (ii) special advisers in his Department had with Mr Andy Coulson (A) between 12 May 2010 and 21 January 2011 and (B) since 22 January 2011;
	(2)  what (a) meetings and (b) other engagements (i) Ministers and (ii) special advisers in his Department have attended which were also attended by (A) representatives, (B) journalists and (C) other employees of (1) News Corporation and its subsidiary organisations and (2) BSkyB since his appointment.

Norman Baker: As has been the practice of previous Administrations information relating to internal meetings, discussions and advice is not normally disclosed.
	I refer the hon. Member to the Prime Minister's statement to the House of the 13 July 2011, Official Report, columns 311-14.

Ports

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the EU Transport Commissioner on the harmonisation of port entry and clearance formalities across the EU.

Michael Penning: Officials from the Department are involved in regular discussions, together with their counterparts in other members states, with the European Commission on the implementation of Directive 2010/65/EU on reporting formalities for ships calling at/departing from ports in the EU.
	There have been no direct discussions with the EU Transport Commissioner on the matter of harmonisation of port entry and clearance formalities.
	The Department will continue to work closely with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, the UK Border Agency and HM Revenue and Customs on implementation.

Ports: Railways

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what work his Department has undertaken on improving intermodal connectivity between deep-sea ports and the rail freight network.

Michael Penning: holding answer 19 July 2011
	The Department for Transport has not carried out any such work. The main studies on this topic have been Network Rail’s route utilisation strategies. These have managed capability gaps on the rail network in respect of a number of markets including the rail haulage of deep-sea intermodal containers. The Department has funded a number of recommended interventions as part of its policy of developing a strategic freight network.
	Major port expansions may require the developers (as for example in the case of Felixstowe South) to enter into obligations to increase rail capability so as to facilitate a sufficient rail share and to avoid detriment to existing rail users.

Railways

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the report on The productive use of rail travel time and value of travel time saving for travellers in the course of work commissioned by his Department.

Theresa Villiers: holding answer 28 June 2011
	Officials have considered the study “Productive Use of Rail Travel Time and the Valuation of Travel Time Savings for Rail Business Travellers” but no formal evaluation of it has been carried out. The study only provides a partial analysis of the complex issues regarding the productive use of travel time and further primary research would be required before a full assessment of the findings could be undertaken. The Department is considering whether further research on this would be justified and is assessing options for taking it forward.

Railways

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  whether his Department is taking steps to implement the recommendation of the final independent report of the Rail Value for Money Study that train operating companies should be liable to pay penalties for exceeding overcrowding limits;
	(2)  with reference to the recommendations of the final independent report of the Rail Value for Money Study, what progress his Department has made on developing a high-level framework for rail asset management to reduce costs associated with the rail network;
	(3)  with reference to the recommendations of the final independent report of the Rail Value for Money Study, whether he plans to introduce legislative proposals to give Network Rail statutory powers to acquire temporary or permanent interests in land owned by third parties;
	(4)  with reference to the recommendations of the final independent report of the Rail Value for Money Study, what plans he has to improve the rail network’s asset condition monitoring;
	(5)  with reference to the recommendations of the final independent report of the Rail Value for Money Study, if his Department will produce a best-practice framework for major whole-system programmes in the rail network.

Theresa Villiers: The Department for Transport has received Sir Roy McNulty’s final report on the value for money of the railway. The Department will be working closely with the Office of Rail Regulation and the rail industry over the next few months to analyse Sir Roy’s recommendations and to agree proposals for the reform of the industry. The Government are committed to publishing their proposals for the future of the rail industry before the end of the year.

Railways: Disability

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress his Department has made towards implementing the Technical Specification for Interoperability for Persons of Reduced Mobility on (a) existing and (b) future rail carriages.

Norman Baker: The Technical Specification for Interoperability for Persons with Reduced Mobility (PRM TSI) is the pan-European accessibility standard that has applied to contracts for new trains of a new design, and major refurbishment of existing trains, signed after 30 June 2008 (or, for orders of new trains to existing designs, since 1 January 2010).
	It replaced, for heavy rail, the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations (RVAR)—which are similar domestic access standards that have been in place since 1998.
	Over 6,600 vehicles are in service which comply with one of the two access standards. Further details can be found here:
	http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publications/transportforyou-access-rail-vehicles-pubs-rva/accessibilitystandards.xls
	All future train fleets, such as IEP, Thameslink and Crossrail, will comply with the PRM TSI. Meanwhile, the law requires all rail vehicles to be accessible by 1 January 2020.

Railways: Fares

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the affordability of regulated rail fares following the introduction of the RPI plus 3% formula.

Theresa Villiers: holding answer 11 July 2011
	A distributional analysis of the impact of rail fare increases was conducted during the spending review and used to inform Department for Transport and Treasury decisions on spending review outcomes.

Railways: Fares

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on whether ticket machines offer all tickets offered for sale by train operating companies, including the cheapest available for travel.

Theresa Villiers: No research has been commissioned recently but the studies undertaken by Passenger Focus (including those undertaken in conjunction with train operators) have informed discussions at all levels, including the independent McNulty Value for Money study. The industry needs to improve its ticket machines and to ensure that passengers are properly informed about the ticket choices available. We will continue to challenge the industry to do that including through our fares review and the White Paper on the future of the rail industry which we intend to publish in November.

Railways: Fares

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  with reference to the recommendations of the final independent report of the Rail Value for Money Study, whether he plans to work with Transport for London on improving interaction between the national rail fare system and the London travelcard area;
	(2)  with reference to the recommendations of the final independent report of the Rail Value for Money Study, whether he plans to give the Office of Rail Regulation a role in rail fare regulation;
	(3)  whether his Department is taking steps to implement the recommendation of the final independent report of the Rail Value for Money Study that train operating companies should be allowed to (a) end the distinction between commuter fares and protected fares and (b) widen the rail fares basket.

Theresa Villiers: The Department for Transport will be working closely with the relevant stakeholders over the next few months to analyse Sir Roy's recommendations and to agree proposals for the reform of the industry.
	As a first step towards a fairer and more effective system of fares and ticketing, the Government will also carry out a fares review, and are currently considering the terms of reference, scope and timetable for this work, including the appropriate form of consultation.

Railways: Planning Permission

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what process will be followed to transfer planning applications affecting the rail network under consideration by the Infrastructure Planning Commission to other bodies after its abolition.

Theresa Villiers: The Localism Bill includes a power of direction to allow the Secretary of State for Transport to transfer applications on a case by case basis at the point of the Infrastructure Planning Commission's abolition.

Railways: Standards

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the data on train punctuality over each relevant period submitted to his Department by each train operating company participating in the right-time railway initiative.

Norman Baker: The Public Performance Measure data for train operating companies submitted to the Department for Transport are already published on the Network Rail website at:
	http://www.networkrail.co.uk/aspx/742.aspx

Rolling Stock: Procurement

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost to the public purse was of (a) staff and (b) external consultants involved in rolling stock procurement in each year since 2004.

Norman Baker: holding answer 19 July 2011
	I regret that the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Rolling Stock: Procurement

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many officials responsible for rolling stock procurement have received a salary greater than that of the Prime Minister in each year since 2004.

Norman Baker: holding answer 19 July 2011
	The Department for Transport had one official responsible for rolling stock procurement over the period in question who received a salary greater than the Prime Minister between 2005 and January 2011. This official left the Department in January 2011 as part of the spending review.
	No officials responsible for rolling stock procurement received a salary greater than the Prime Minister in 2004.

Severn River Crossings: Tolls

Alun Michael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he plans to end tolls on the Severn Crossings.

Michael Penning: It has been standard practice to toll all major crossings in the UK since 1945. However, no decisions have yet been made on the future of the Severn Crossing once the existing concession ends in 2017.

Thameslink Railway Line: Rolling Stock

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what date bidders for the Thameslink Rolling Stock Project submitted their final prices.

Theresa Villiers: holding answer 11 July 2011
	Final prices were received in bidders' responses on 12 January 2011.

Thameslink Railway Line: Rolling Stock

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether any additional criteria were added to assess (a) bidders and (b) bids for the Thameslink Rolling Stock Project between 31 April 2008 and the announcement of preferred bidders in June 2011.

Theresa Villiers: No additional criteria were added to assess the accreditation of bidders or the evaluation of bids for the Thameslink Rolling Stock Project since 30 April 2008.

Thameslink Railway Line: Rolling Stock

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes to the weighting of criteria for the assessment of (a) bidders and (b) bids for the Thameslink Rolling Stock Project were made between 31 April 2008 and the announcement of preferred bidder in June 2011; at what stage such changes were made; and for what reasons.

Theresa Villiers: No changes were made to the weighting of criteria for the accreditation of bidders or for the evaluation of bids for the Thameslink Rolling Stock Project since 30 April 2008.

Thameslink Railway Line: Rolling Stock

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department has spent on consultants to evaluate the Thameslink Rolling Stock Project to date.

Theresa Villiers: From May 2008, the Department has spent approximately £13.1 million (exc VAT) to date on specialist consultants and advisers to evaluate the Thameslink Rolling Stock project. This resource has included financial, procurement, technical, legal, planning and other specialist advice required to deliver the Thameslink Rolling Stock Project which is one of the largest rolling stock orders in the country.
	Of this figure, £5.3 million has been spent since May 2010.

Thameslink Railway Line: Rolling Stock

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he requested changes to the Thameslink Rolling Stock Project following the review which he reported to the House on 25 November 2010.

Theresa Villiers: The Government conducted a major project review during June/July 2010 which included a review of the Thameslink programme. The aims of the review were to assess:
	the financial savings achievable by the project in 2010-11 and beyond;
	the likelihood of successful delivery of savings and project aims.
	No changes were made to the Thameslink Rolling Stock project as a result of this review. The evaluation criteria set by the previous Government binds the current Administration.

Thameslink: Contracts

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department assessed the effect on Bombardier's ability to (a) complete existing orders and (b) bid for future new contracts of his decision on the award of the Thameslink contract.

Theresa Villiers: Neither Bombardier's ability to complete existing orders nor their ability to bid for future contracts were in the evaluation criteria specified in the Invitation to Tender.
	However, the pre-qualification assessment of all potential bidders included an assessment of the applicants' manufacturing capacity, identifying that which is committed to other orders; and details of how the applicant manages their order book to ensure that actual and potential orders can be scheduled into production plans.

Third Sector

Julie Hilling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the name is of each charity and voluntary organisation Ministers in his Department have visited since 12 May 2010.

Norman Baker: holding answer 19 July 2011
	The Department does not hold the information in the form requested, nor could it be obtained other than at disproportionate cost.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

AssetCo: Contracts

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the monetary value is of each contract his Department holds with AssetCo or its subsidiaries.

Bob Neill: holding answer 19 July 2011
	My Department holds no contracts with AssetCo or its subsidiaries.

Audit Commission: Expenditure

Chris Kelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Cannock Chase of 31 January 2011, Official Report, column 526W, on the Audit Commission: expenditure, what the (a) date, (b) venue and (c) cost to the public purse has been of each Audit Commission Alumni event.

Bob Neill: holding answer 19 July 2011
	This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to my hon. Friend direct.
	Letter from Eugene Sullivan, dated 20 July 2011
	Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply.
	The Audit Commission set up its alumni group in 2008 to keep in touch with colleagues who had left the Commission, either on retirement, or to move on to other organisations or industries. Due to the number of people registered to attend, the events were held at external venues in London.
	Staff felt it was useful to keep these contacts, not only to network—the focus at two events were debates or lectures on public service issues relevant to the Commission’s work. However, the Commission’s Management Team did not feel that the benefits outweighed the cost, so the last event was held in May 2010.
	The event held on (a) 4 November 2009 at (b) One Great George Street was the first event for current and former staff. The cost was (c) £3115.30, which included room hire, equipment hire and refreshments.
	The second event was held on (a) 10 November 2009 at (b) the Institution of Engineering and Technology. It focused on a debate on Regulation and its Future, by Nick Timmins and Professor Sir Michael Barber, after which there followed a roundtable discussion led by Paul Kirby. The cost was (c) £4138.60, which included room hire, equipment hire and refreshments.
	The final event, held on (a) 12 May 2010, was at (b) the Royal Horseguards. Mark Harris, the Chief Executive, National Lottery Commission gave a lecture about Regulation in Practice. The cost was (c) £4540.68, which included room hire, equipment hire and refreshments. The figure quoted in my letter of 31 January was the estimated rather than final cost.

Audit Commission: Expenditure

Chris Kelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Cannock Chase of 1 February 2011, Official Report, column 740W, on the Audit Commission: expenditure, if he will place in the Library a copy of each bespoke photography image purchased for the launch and reporting of Comprehensive Area Assessment; what the name is of the photographers or associated company used; and what the cost to the public purse was of the Comprehensive Area Assessment photography work.

Bob Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to my hon. Friend direct.
	Letter from Eugene Sullivan, dated 20 July 2011
	Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply.
	The launch event for Comprehensive Area Assessment took place at St Martin in the Field on 7 December 2009 (under embargo for a 9 December launch). Thirty two photographic images were purchased by the Commission from the official photographer, Frank Noon at a total cost of £250. These photographs have been supplied to the House of Commons Library, as requested.
	The main image used for the Oneplace website was purchased from photo library Getty Images at a cost of £439.99.
	Big Stick photography took portraits at a cost of £1670 of all of the Commission's Comprehensive Area Assessment Leads who were responsible for coordinating and producing the local assessments. We also used Big Stick to take pictures to support our communication activity to explain CAA with public bodies. Other invoices were for a week's worth of work in Sunderland, at a cost of £2275.04, and on-site shoots in Stockport and London costing £1160.
	Other costs related to CAA are £785 for images supplied by brand and image agency Fishburn Hedges (who developed the Oneplace brand); and £448 with Photofusion on three stock shots for the Oneplace National Overview Report. These can viewed on the Oneplace website:
	http://oneplace.audit-commission.gov.uk/infobyarea/region/area/Pages/areaoverview.aspx?region=54area=319
	The images associated with each area page on the Oneplace site were supplied by a council in that area. These were free of charge. Other images in the website were around 100 stock images at varying cost. Some were free of charge, some will have been at a minimal cost of £2 each. To calculate the exact cost would take disproportionate time and cost.
	In my response to the hon. Member for Cannock Chase of 1 February 2011, Official Report, column 740W, I said that the increase in expenditure in 2009/10 was due to the extra photography work associated with the launch and reporting of CAA. As well as the specific purchases listed above the Commission updated images in its general photo library during 2009/10 at an estimated cost of £7,200. These were used for a variety of purposes, including some associated with CAA. Disaggregating the costs and photographs between the different projects would be disproportionate in terms of both time and costs.
	Therefore the cost to the public purse for the CAA photography work is estimated to be £7228.03, plus a proportion of the cost incurred for the updated images for the Commission's general photo library.

Council Tax

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the cost to the public purse was, in real terms, of replacing (a) rates with the community charge and (b) the community charge with council tax.

Bob Neill: I refer the hon. Member to previous answers on the set up costs relating to (a) community charge and (b) council tax for Scotland dated 7 November 1996, Official Report, column 667, costs relating to (a) community charge in England dated 26 April 1989, Official Report, column 574 and costs relating to (b) council tax dated 5 November 1992, Official Report, column 3.

Departmental Publications

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will place in the Library a list of publications issued by his Department in each of the last three years.

Bob Neill: This information can be found on my Department's website, using the publications search facility:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/publications/all/?view=Search+form

Gifts and Endowments

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what gifts valued below £140 Ministers in his Department received in (a) 2006-07, (b) 2007-08 and (c) 2008-09.

Bob Neill: The receipt of gifts by Ministers is handled in accordance with the provisions of the Ministerial Code. Based on available records the following gifts valued below £140 were received in each of the years in question:
	2006-07
	Book
	Glass ornament
	Paperweight
	Scarf
	2007-08
	Books
	Crystal ornament
	Glass bowl
	Paperweight
	2008-09
	Book
	Letter opener
	Pen
	T-shirt
	Trowel
	Wallet

Government Procurement Card

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 9 June 2011, Official Report, column 446W, on departmental official hospitality, which of the transactions under the heading of (a) restaurants and bars and (b) leisure activities in the Government Procurement Card transaction data of (i) 2008-09 and (ii) 2009-10 were made using cards held by the private office of each Minister in his Department.

Bob Neill: The following transactions were made under the heading of ‘restaurants and bars’ and ‘leisure activities’ using cards held by ministerial private offices in 2008-09 and 2009-10.
	
		
			 2008-09 
			 Transaction date Merchant Town Spend category Transaction amount (£) 
			 14 April 2008 Nags Head Inn Usk Restaurants and Bars 51.15 
			 21 April 2008 Wagamama Victoria Victoria Restaurants and Bars 36.20 
			 1 May 2008 Wagamama Victoria Victoria Restaurants and Bars 30.25 
			 12 May 2008 Wagamama Victoria Victoria Restaurants and Bars 43.55 
			 3 June 2008 Wagamama Victoria Victoria Restaurants and Bars 48.45 
			 4 June 2008 Wagamama Victoria Victoria Restaurants and Bars 52.15 
			 11 June 2008 Wagamama Victoria Victoria Restaurants and Bars 55.40 
			 13 June 2008 Pizza Express 1341 Victoria 1 Restaurants and Bars 35.75 
			 18 June 2008 Wagamama Victoria Victoria Restaurants and Bars 48.10 
			 20 June 2008 Ritazza Cafe Paddington St Restaurants and Bars 7.17 
			 25 June 2008 Refreshment Dpt Micros London SW1P Restaurants and Bars 5.45 
			 1 July 2008 Wagamama Victoria Victoria Restaurants and Bars 54.55 
			 1 July 2008 Refreshment Dpt Micros London SW1P Restaurants and Bars 5.30 
			 7 July 2008 Pump House Durham Leisure Activities 245.40 
			 9 July 2008 Refreshment Dpt Micros London SW1P Restaurants and Bars 6.55 
			 11 July 2008 Wagamama Victoria Victoria Restaurants and Bars 48.35 
			 15 July 2008 Wagamama Victoria Victoria Restaurants and Bars 42.15 
			 18 July 2008 Costa Coffee Newcastle U T Restaurants and Bars 7.30 
			 23 July 2008 Wagamama Victoria Victoria Restaurants and Bars 52.90 
			 24 July 2008 Refreshment Dpt Micros London SW1P Restaurants and Bars 88.70 
			 31 July 2008 Moto Catering Ferrybridge Restaurants and Bars 8.08 
			 19 August 2008 Wagamama Victoria Victoria Restaurants and Bars 27.60 
			 21 August 2008 Wagamama Victoria Victoria Restaurants and Bars 22.75 
			 21 August 2008 Pizza Express 1341 Victoria 1 Restaurants and Bars 52.90 
			 2 October 2008 Pizza Express 1341 Victoria 1 Restaurants and Bars 33.75 
			 14 October 2008 Wagamama Victoria Victoria Restaurants and Bars 48.25 
			 20 October 2008 Wagamama Victoria Victoria Restaurants and Bars 49.10 
			 30 October 2008 Refreshment Dpt Micros London SW1P Restaurants and Bars 53.20 
			 31 October 2008 Pizza Express 1341 Victoria 1 Restaurants and Bars 30.35 
			 31 October 2008 Wagamama Victoria Victoria Restaurants and Bars 27.20 
			 2 November 2008 Nanjing Qina Tang Renjia Nanjing Restaurants and Bars 27.30 
			 4 November 2008 SHH Yong An Xianqiangfang Shanghai Restaurants and Bars 522.73 
			 20 November 2008 Wagamama Victoria Victoria Restaurants and Bars 50.05 
			 25 November 2008 Pizza Express 1341 Victoria 1 Restaurants and Bars 40.10 
			 2 December 2008 The Wolseley London W1J Restaurants and Bars 99.23 
			 5 December 2008 Wagamama Victoria Victoria Restaurants and Bars 45.45 
			 17 December 2008 Refreshment Dpt Micros London SW1P Restaurants and Bars 33.00 
			 18 December 2008 Refreshment Dpt Micros London SW1P Restaurants and Bars -18.00 
			 22 January 2009 Wagamama Victoria Victoria Restaurants and Bars 31.30 
			 5 February 2009 Starbucks Coffee Co London Restaurants and Bars 5.43 
			 12 February 2009 Costa @ Cardinal London 430220 Restaurants and Bars 6.00 
			 10 March 2009 Pret A Manger 57 Great East Restaurants and Bars 3.58 
			 17 March 2009 Costa Waterloo London SE1 Restaurants and Bars 4.30 
			 19 March 2009 Gruppo Inn The Parks London SW1A Restaurants and Bars 107.78 
			 30 March 2009 Starbucks Coffee3913407 75 Paris 8 Restaurants and Bars 9.20 
		
	
	
		
			 2009 - 10 
			 Transaction date Merchant Town Spend category Transaction amount (£) 
			 3 April 2009 Refreshment Dpt Micros London SW1P Restaurants and Bars 480.10 
			 8 May 2009 Pizza Express London 2031 Restaurants and Bars 35.25 
			 14 May 2009 Garfunkels Edinburgh 897 Restaurants and Bars 16.00 
			 15 May 2009 Refreshment Dpt Micros London SW1P Restaurants and Bars 334.20 
			 5 June 2009 Wagamama Victoria Victoria Restaurants and Bars 42.95 
			 5 June 2009 The Wolseley London W1J Restaurants and Bars 97.37 
			 1 October 2009 Old Star City Of Westminster Restaurants and Bars 44.20 
			 21 October 2009 Refreshment Dpt Micros London SW1P Restaurants and Bars 18.10 
		
	
	
		
			 30 October 2009 Refreshment Dpt Micros London SW1P Restaurants and Bars 95.40 
			 3 November 2009 Refreshment Dpt Micros London SW1P Restaurants and Bars 31.20 
			 26 November 2009 Fuel Cafe Bar Ltd Manchester Restaurants and Bars 9.40 
			 12 January 2010 Refreshment Dpt Micros London SW1P Restaurants and Bars 384.60 
			 18 February 2010 Costa @ Durham Southbound Restaurants and Bars 8.50 
			 8 March 2010 Refreshment Dpt Micros London SW1P Restaurants and Bars 35.00 
		
	
	The Government Procurement Card spend categories depend on how the vendor classifies their business. Some transactions under the ‘restaurants and bars’ line related to the purchase of gifts on official business, and were excluded from the figures provided in my written answer of 9 June 2011, Official Report, column 447W.
	The single transaction listed under ‘leisure activities’ was a ministerial working dinner and should therefore be added to the figures provided in my written answer of 9 June 2011, Official Report, column 447W.
	My Department is committed to greater transparency over the use of the Government Procurement Card than under the last Administration, and has strengthened checks and balances to ensure protection of taxpayers’ money.

Local Government Finance

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his policy is on the powers of local authorities to raise finance through the issue of municipal bonds; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Neill: Under the prudential system local authorities are able to borrow for capital projects without Government consent, provided that they can afford the borrowing costs. Authorities are free to choose the source of these loans, and may borrow, should they wish to do so, by issuing bonds.
	Also the Local Government Resource Review is considering how, in the context of changes to the business rate system, Tax Increment Financing can be introduced. Tax Increment Financing enables borrowing against future increases in business rate receipts to help fund the development of infrastructure.

Local Government: Procurement

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps his Department is taking to encourage local authorities to tender through Contracts Finder.

Bob Neill: In February, a new, free-to-use, online Contracts Finder portal was launched to make it easier and cheaper for small and medium enterprises and the voluntary and community sector to bid for public sector opportunities.
	Procurement in local government is a matter for local discretion and my Department does not wish to prescribe to local authorities how they should conduct their business. My Department does, however, encourage local authorities to consider tendering through Contracts Finder. I am also delighted to say that the noble Lady, Baroness Eaton, supported Contract Finder while Chair of the Local Government Association, vowing that the Local Government Group will, through the Local Productivity Programme, spearhead its roll-out across local government.

Planning Inspectorate

Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the cost to his Department of the Planning Inspectorate was in 2010-11.

Bob Neill: holding answer 19 July 2011
	The Planning Inspectorate received funding of £38.136 million from my Department in 2010-11.

Social Rented Housing

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside of 13 July 2011, Official Report, column 390W, on immigration: housing, what definition of habitual residence his Department provides to (a) registered providers of housing and (b) local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Stunell: Habitual residence is not defined in legislation. It is a matter of fact, taking into account all the circumstances in a particular case. Decision makers must consider a variety of factors including the general nature of a person's residence in the UK; their reasons for coming to the UK; and the length of their actual residence here.
	The 2002 Code of Guidance on the Allocation of Accommodation and the 2006 Homelessness Code of Guidance provide detailed advice to local housing authorities about the factors which they should take into account when considering whether an applicant is habitually resident in the context of eligibility for social housing and homelessness assistance.

Third Sector

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which charities and voluntary organisations Ministers in his Department have visited since 12 May 2010.

Bob Neill: holding answer 19 July 2011
	Details of all meetings with, and visits to, external organisations and their representatives by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and all Ministers in his Department, including charities and voluntary organisations, are published on the DCLG website:
	www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/transparencyingovernment/ministerialdata
	More recent data will be published here in due course.

Travellers: Caravan Sites

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many planning appeals involving Gypsy and Traveller site (a) planning applications and (b) enforcement actions Mr Clive Kirkbride has determined in each year since his appointment; and how many such appeals have been (i) allowed and granted permission in favour of the Gypsy or Traveller site and (ii) refused permission.

Bob Neill: The following table shows the number of planning and enforcement appeals decided by Clive Kirkbride each year, since his appointment at the end of 2002.
	
		
			  Planning appeals Enforcement appeals 
			  Number allowed Number refused Number allowed Number refused 
			 2003 — — — — 
			 2004 — — — — 
			 2005 — — — — 
			 2006 — — — — 
			 2007 1 — — — 
			 2008 — — — — 
			 2009 — — — — 
			 2010 1 — 4 1 
		
	
	These results should be read in conjunction with the Introduction to the section of the Planning Inspectorate's Statistical Report for 2010-11 that shows the percentage allowed and dismissed by Inspector. In particular:
	All cases are considered on their individual merits, and on the basis of the evidence submitted;
	Inspectors do not select their own casework, and all work on a variety of case types; and
	Inspectors are rigorously trained to ensure that they develop and maintain the skills necessary to undertake the work that they are given. These skills will influence the type of cases they deal with.
	www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/pins/statistics_eng/10_11/stats_report_final_2010_2011.pdf

Travellers: Caravan Sites

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the name is of each planning inspector who has determined an appeal concerning Gypsy and Traveller sites in each of the last five years; and in how many and what proportion of such cases (a) the appeal was allowed in favour of the appellant and (b) the appeal was dismissed in favour of the local planning authority's original decision.

Bob Neill: Tables showing the names of planning inspectors who have presided over one or more such planning appeals in the last five years (2006-10), and the proportion allowed and dismissed have been placed in the Library of the House.

JUSTICE

Criminal Responsibility

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will make it his policy to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 14; and if he will make a statement.

Crispin Blunt: The Government have no plans to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 14.

Courts: Rural Areas

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what his most recent assessment is of the projected level of access to justice in rural communities in each of the next four financial years.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Government published a full impact assessment alongside its response to the legal aid reform consultation. This outlines our best estimate of the likely impact of proposals, though ultimately impacts will be driven by behavioural responses to the reforms and these are very difficult to predict with any degree of accuracy. However, we have also undertaken to carry out a full post-implementation review of the reforms following their implementation.

Crown Dependencies

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he has any plans to visit the Crown dependencies in the next year.

Jonathan Djanogly: My noble Friend, Lord McNally, Minister with responsibility for the Crown dependencies, has visited all three Crown dependencies within the last 12 months and plans to make return visits in the near future.

Regulation: Guidance

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what process his Department follows for the production of regulatory guidance; and how many officials of his Department were involved in the production of such guidance on the last date for which figures are available.

Jonathan Djanogly: Guidance is produced by my Department when users need information to be confident that they can comply with the law. Guidance is compliant with the code of practice on guidance and is tested with stakeholders so that it is comprehensive and meets user needs.
	Figures are not available on the number of officials involved in the production of guidance.

Employment Tribunals Service

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many employment tribunal (a) hearings were cancelled by the tribunal, (b) hearings were listed as floaters, (c) hearings were listed within 26 weeks of receipt in single jurisdiction claims, (d) hearings had to be adjourned as a result of being part-heard and (e) written judgments were sent to the parties within four weeks of the conclusion of the hearing in each region in the latest period for which figures are available; and what the average period of time taken was to list pre-hearing reviews in each region.

Jonathan Djanogly: Employment tribunals list various types of hearings, including case management discussions, pre-hearing reviews, full/final hearings (which include assessment of remedies, where relevant) and review hearings.
	Listing of hearings in cases (including the cancellation, postponement or adjournment of cases) is a judicial matter. Once listed, ‘cancellations’ can occur, for example, where the claim is resolved, settled or withdrawn before the hearing is scheduled to take place; where a postponement request is made by one or both of the parties and accepted by the tribunal; or where the employment tribunal itself postpones the hearing on its own volition for any number of reasons.
	In relation to part (a) of the question, Table 1 shows all hearings marked as ‘postponed by Tribunal’ on the HMCTS management information system. It is not possible to discern the cause of the postponement (for example whether it was at the instigation of parties, or the tribunal's own volition).
	
		
			 Table 1: Hearings ‘Postponed by Tribunal’ in the financial year 2010-11 
			 Region Total  h earings postponed Full  hearings postponed 
			 Midlands 1,200 790 
			 North East and North West 1,400 970 
			 Central London 650 420 
			 Greater London and South East 1,200 960 
			 Wales and South West 880 630 
			 Scotland(1) — — 
			 GB total 5,400 3,800 
			 (1) There were no postponements by tribunal recorded in Scotland in 2010-11, in 2009-10 there were two. Notes: 1. Hearings are marked as ‘postponed by Tribunal’ on the tribunal management information system. These are hearings where, for a variety of reasons including cancellation, that the hearing has been postponed by the tribunal. It is not possible to separate out the reasons for the postponement. Therefore the table gives indicative figures for the total number of postponements by tribunals, of which cancellations will be a subset. 2. All figures by region in the latest period for which figures are available. Rounding: Figures in the tables are rounded independently and thus may not add to totals. The following conventions have been used: Values less than 100 remain as unit values; Values from 100 to 999 are rounded to nearest 10; and Values of 1,000 and over are rounded to the nearest 100. Source: ET Central database July 2011 
		
	
	In relation to part (b), employment tribunal offices are not required to collate and record this information. Those that do do not report the data so that they can be collated and held centrally. Accordingly, it is not possible to provide the information requested.
	In relation to part (c), Table 2 shows the number of ‘singles’ cases that were listed within 26 weeks of receipt of the original claim.
	
		
			 Table 2: Single cases with hearings listed within 26 weeks of receipt for the financial year 2010-11 (1) 
			 Region Single  cases with hearings listed for hearing within  26 weeks 
			 Midlands 4,600 
			 North East and North West 10,500 
			 Central London 2,400 
			 Greater London and South East 9,900 
		
	
	
		
			 Wales and South West 7,400 
			 Scotland 3,800 
			 GB total 38,500 
			 (1) There were 50,200 cases listed in the financial year 2010-11, of which 77% were listed for a first hearing within 26 weeks. Data on the percentage of single accepted cases where the first hearing began within 26 weeks of receipt (rather than being listed within that period), and the employment tribunals' performance against the 75% target, is published regularly. The latest available information, for the 2010-11 financial year is available on the MOJ website. Note: All figures by region in the latest period for which figures are available. Rounding: Figures in the tables are rounded independently and thus may not add to totals. The following conventions have been used: Values less than 100 remain as unit values; Values from 100 to 999 are rounded to nearest 10; and Values of 1,000 and over are rounded to the nearest 100. Source: ET Central database April 2011 
		
	
	In relation to part (d), Table 3 shows hearings that were adjourned as a result of being part-heard.
	
		
			 Table 3: All  part heard hearings  for the financial year 2010-11 
			 Region Total  hearings ‘part-heard’ Full/ final hearings ‘part-heard’ 
			 Midlands 87 81 
			 North East and North West 390 360 
			 Central London 210 190 
			 Greater London and South East 230 210 
			 Wales and South West 45 42 
			 Scotland 30 30 
			 GB total 990 920 
			 Note: All figures by region in the latest period for which figures are available. Rounding: Figures in the tables are rounded independently and thus may not add to totals. The following conventions have been used: Values less than 100 remain as unit values; Values from 100 to 999 are rounded to nearest 10; and Values of 1,000 and over are rounded to the nearest 100. Source: ET Central database July 2011 
		
	
	In relation to part (e), Table 4 shows the number of written judgments that were sent to the parties within four weeks of the conclusion of the hearing.
	
		
			 Table 4: Judgments sent to parties within 4 weeks of decision (single claims only) for the financial year 2010-11 (1) 
			 Region Judgment  sent within four weeks 
			 Midlands 960 
			 North East and North West 2,300 
			 Central London 700 
			 Greater London and South East 3,100 
			 Wales and South West 1,500 
			 Scotland 560 
		
	
	
		
			 GB total 9,100 
			 (1) There were 10,600 judgments issued in financial year 2010-11, of which 86% were issued within four weeks of the final hearing. Note: All figures by region in the latest period for which figures are available. Rounding: Figures in the tables are rounded independently and thus may not add to totals. The following conventions have been used: Values less than 100 remain as unit values; Values from 100 to 999 are rounded to nearest 10; and Values of 1,000 and over are rounded to the nearest 100. Source: ET Central database April 2011 
		
	
	In relation to the final part of the question about listing pre hearing reviews, Table 5 shows the average time taken to list such hearings in each region.
	
		
			 Table 5: Listing times for pre-hearing reviews for the financial year 2010-11 
			 Region Average  time from receipt to pre-hearing review  ( days ) 
			 Midlands 260 
			 North East and North West 150 
			 Central London 150 
			 Greater London and South East 190 
			 Wales and South West 170 
			 Scotland 160 
			 GB average 180 
			 Note: All figures by region in the latest period for which figures are available. Rounding: Figures in the tables are rounded independently and thus may not add to totals. The following conventions have been used: Values less than 100 remain as unit values; Values from 100 to 999 are rounded to nearest 10; and Values of 1,000 and over are rounded to the nearest 100. Source: ET Central database July 2011

Identification Procedures

Esther McVey: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the extent to which (a) victims and (b) witnesses of crime participating in a video identification parade are able to pre-identify suspects through social media.

James Brokenshire: I have been asked to reply.
	While no specific assessment of the extent of such pre-identification has been conducted, video identification procedures, like all other identification procedures, are conducted by the police in accordance with the requirements of Code of Practice D issued in accordance with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE). In addition, the police service has a dedicated group specialising in video identification, which works with the CPS and others, including the Home Office, to identify any issues which might require changes to Code of Practice D.
	We are satisfied that the provisions of Code of Practice D balance properly the need for the police to secure admissible identification evidence with the need for safeguards for suspects. In particular, paragraph 3.29 requires that
	“Each eye-witness involved in the procedure (whether they are a witness or victim) shall be asked, after they have taken part, whether they have seen any film, photograph or image relating to the offence or any description of the suspect which has been broadcast or published in any national or local media or on any social networking site and, if they have, they should be asked to give details of the circumstances, such as the date and place as relevant. Their replies shall be recorded.”
	The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is then responsible for considering the evidential implications of any such prior identification when deciding whether the suspect should be charged and for disclosing relevant information to the defence in the event of subsequent proceedings.

Juries: Age

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he plans to raise the age limit for people eligible to serve on juries.

Crispin Blunt: The previous Government's ageing strategy, ‘Building a Society for All Ages’ (2009), gave an undertaking to review the upper age limit for jury service. A public consultation ran from 16 March to 8 June 2010 and drew 44 responses. We are now considering the issue in the light of the consultation.

Legal Aid Scheme

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what proportion of individuals in receipt of legal aid were (a) under the age of 18 and (b) identified as having a physical or mental disability in the latest period for which figures are available; and how many cases in that period in respect of which such aid was granted concerned clinical negligence.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Legal Services Commission (LSC) is able to provide this information and it is shown in the following table. Figures relate to civil representation only for the financial year 2009-10.
	
		
			  Overall proportion of legal aid recipients (percentage) Total number of clinical negligence cases 
			 Under 18 18 1,017 
			 Physical or mental disability 11 1,589

Legal Aid Scheme

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many persons aged (a) under 18 and (b) 18 to 24 years were in receipt of civil and family legal aid in respect of each type of justiciable matter that will (i) be and (ii) not be eligible for legal aid following the implementation of the Government's proposals in the latest year for which information is available; what proportion of all recipients this represented in each case; and what the cost to the public purse was in each case.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Legal Services Commission (LSC) is able to provide this information and it is shown in the following table. The current data and estimated impact of the reforms are based on 2009-10 closed cases relating to volume and cost of civil family and non-family legal aid for those aged under 18, 18 to 24 and 25 plus.
	
		
			   Volume (thousand ) Cost (£  million) %  volume %  cost 
			   Current In scope post reforms Out of scope post reforms Current In scope post reforms Out of scope post reforms In scope post reforms Out of scope post reforms In scope post reforms Out of scope post reforms 
			 Family Under 18 23 23 — 120 120 — 100 0 100 0 
			  18 to 24 55 20 35 90 60 30 37 63 67 33 
			  25 plus 294 81 215 380 240 140 28 73 63 37 
			  Total 372 125 250 590 420 170 33 67 71 29 
			             
			 Non family Under 18 18 12 6 25 15 10 67 33 59 40 
			  18 to 24 69 35 34 35 25 10 50 50 72 29 
			  25 plus 462 185 275 210 130 80 40 60 62 38 
			  Total 549 230 315 270 170 100 42 57 63 37 
			             
			 Total civil (family + non-family) Under 18 41 35 6 145 135 10 86 14 93 7 
			  18 to 24 124 55 69 125 85 40 44 56 68 32 
			  25 plus 756 265 490 590 370 220 36 65 63 37 
			  Total 920 355 565 860 590 270 39 61 69 31 
			 Notes: 1. Figures have been rounded appropriately therefore the totals may not sum to their individual components. 2. Telephone advice data are not available by age. Consequently, telephone advice figures have been excluded from this table and saving/volume reduction figures do not tally with those in the published impact assessments. 3. The figures sum legal help and legal representation.

HEALTH

Alcoholic Drinks: Rehabilitation

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will assess the provision of support available to alcohol and drug rehabilitation centres in (a) Pendle, (b) Lancashire and (c) England.

Anne Milton: Drug and alcohol treatment services are commissioned locally, with funding provided by a combination of central Government funding and local funding provided by a range of local partners including the local authority, health, policy and probation. In Pendle, they are commissioned by Lancashire Drug and Alcohol Action Team who also provide support to delivery of services across the county.
	The Government's Drug Strategy, published in December 2010, highlighted the need for local areas to build close links between residential rehabilitation and other services when commissioning support to help people recover from dependence on drugs and alcohol. In a series of initiatives funded by the Department, the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA) has:
	allocated over £65 million since 2007-08 for capital projects to improve the provision of rehabilitation facilities;
	launched Rehab Online, a web-based directory of residential services in 2010; and
	held a series of regional events in 2011 to raise the profile of such services.
	Later this year, the NTA will be responding to the consultation on Building Recovery in Communities by publishing updated advice on models of care for people dependent on drugs and alcohol.

Conditions of Employment

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many meetings officials of his Department have had with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on the Government’s employment law review since May 2011.

Simon Burns: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave him on 21 June 2011, Official Report, columns 252-53W. No meetings have taken place between the Department of Health and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on this topic.

Dental Health: Children

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the level of tooth decay in children aged (a) five to 12 years and (b) 12 to 15 years old in Peterborough constituency; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: The “NHS Dental Epidemiology Programme for England Oral Health Survey of five-year-old Children 2007/2008 and 12-year-old Children 2008/2009” shows that the average number of decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) among five and 12-year-old children in the area of Peterborough Primary Care Trust was 1.60 and 0.70 respectively compared to a DMFT. of 1.11 and 0.74 respectively for England as a whole.
	The full results of the survey are available at:
	www.nwph.net/dentalhealth/
	The two tables from the survey that include the above data have been placed in the Library.

Departmental Procurement

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many procurement contracts his Department has awarded to small businesses since May 2010.

Simon Burns: The Department fully supports the Government's initiative regarding small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and utilises a wide range of organisations within this category who provide an essential contribution to the delivery of the Department's objectives. An average of 17% of purchase order value was placed with small businesses over the past two years.
	During the period 1 May 2010 to 13 July 2011, the Department placed a total of 11,225 purchase orders worth £512 million with commercial suppliers, academic institutions, third sector organisations and independent contractors, of which 3,666 worth £82 million were from SMEs. This represents 32.5% of the total orders.

Departmental Procurement

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of procurement contracts offered by his Department have been advertised on the Contracts Finder website since the website's inception.

Simon Burns: The Department has advertised a total of 243 contracts or tenders on the Contracts Finder website, since the website's inception up to 18 July 2011. The Department does not hold a consolidated record of the total number of contracts and tenders offered by it during this period, and therefore cannot confirm the proportion that those advertised on Contracts Finder represent of the total.

Regulation: Guidance

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what process his Department follows for the production of regulatory guidance; and how many officials of his Department were involved in the production of such guidance on the most recent date for which figures are available.

Simon Burns: The Department circulated the Government's “Code of Practice on Guidance on Regulation, BRE, 2009”, to assist policy officials when producing regulatory guidance.
	Information on the number of officials engaged in production of regulatory guidance is not collected centrally and would require disproportionate effort to collate and compile.

Departmental Responsibilities

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many meetings he has had with hon. Members of each political party since May 2010;
	(2)  if he will consider keeping data on the number of times (a) he and (b) officials of his Department have declined a request for a meeting from an hon. Member of each political party;
	(3)  on how many occasions a request for a meeting by an hon. Member of each political party was refused by (a) a Minister in his Department directly and (b) his Department on behalf of a Minister in November 2010.

Simon Burns: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The Department has no plans to keep such data.

Hepatitis

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to ensure equity between regions in provision of treatment for hepatitis C.

Anne Milton: The NHS Commissioning Board will be responsible for ensuring that services, including for the treatment of hepatitis C, are commissioned so as to ensure consistency of high quality provision across the country and to address inequalities in access.

IVF: Nottinghamshire

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will assess the compliance of Nottinghamshire Primary Care Trust with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines on the provision of IVF;
	(2)  if he will review the decision of Nottinghamshire Primary Care Trust not to fund IVF treatment for Susi Henson;
	(3)  if he will review (a) the eligibility criteria for IVF treatment used by Nottinghamshire Primary Care Trust and (b) their application to the case of Susi Henson.

Anne Milton: The provision of NHS services, including in vitro fertilisation, is a matter for the national health service locally. It would not be appropriate for the Department to become involved in this matter.
	Primary care trusts are well aware of their statutory commissioning responsibilities and the need to base commissioning decisions on clinical evidence and discussions with local general practitioner commissioners, secondary care clinicians and providers.
	The NHS deputy chief executive, David Flory, wrote to primary care trust commissioners on 11 January 2011 to highlight to those involved in commissioning fertility services the importance of having regard to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence fertility guidelines, including the recommendation that up to three cycles of in vitro fertilisation are offered to eligible couples where the woman is aged between 23 and 39.
	A copy of this communication has already been placed in the Library and is available at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/documents/digitalasset/dh_123405.pdf

Landfill: Health Hazards

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has commissioned on potential health risks to children living in close proximity to landfill sites.

Anne Milton: No studies have been commissioned specifically of childhood. The Department has commissioned research previously on the risks of some types of cancer among people living close to a landfill site and of birth outcomes in babies born to mothers living near sites compared to those living further away (Jarup et al, 2002. British Journal of Cancer Volume 86, pages 1732-1736 and Elliott et al, 2001. British Medical Journal Volume 323, pages 363-368). A slight increase in congenital anomalies was found but no excess risk of cancer. The independent advisory Committee on the Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) considered these studies and noted that the findings for birth outcomes were not consistent, and that the study provided no evidence that the rates of anomalies increased after sites had opened:
	http://cot.food.gov.uk/cotstatements/cotstatementsyrs/cotstatements2001/sahsulandfill
	The COT considered further studies in 2010 and found the results reassuring. In particular, it found no cause for concern for the health of families with infants or for couples who live in the vicinity of landfill sites and who are considering having a baby:
	http://cot.food.gov.uk/pdfs/cotstatementlandfill201001.pdf

Naloxone

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has any plans to make Naloxone available on the NHS.

Simon Burns: Naloxone is available through the NHS in England. It is for the devolved Administrations to make decisions about expenditure on individual medicines.

Nurses: Foreign Workers

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many foreign-trained nurses are working in hospitals in England.

Anne Milton: The data are not held centrally. The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) collects data on the number of admissions to the NMC register by country.

Nurses: Training

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nursing training places were provided in each region in academic year 2010-11; and how many such places will be provided in 2011-12.

Anne Milton: Information on nursing training places is not collected by the Department by academic year, but by financial year. The following table provides the actual training commissions of diploma and degree programmes provided for 2010-11 and planned for 2011-12 by region.
	
		
			 Strategic Health Authority 2010-11 actual commissions for diploma programmes 2010-11 actual commissions for degree programmes 2011-12 planned commissions for diploma programmes 2011-12 planned commissions for degree programmes 
			 North East 727 320 399 601 
			 North West 1,595 1,835 433 2,649 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 1,335 815 579 1,269 
			 East Midlands 1,308 277 1,099 363 
			 West Midlands 1,827 694 0 2,102 
			 East of England 1,170 560 268 1,268 
			 London 2,751 937 286 3,115 
			 South East Coast 911 392 298 871 
			 South Central 859 283 469 639 
			 South West 852 644 262 1,099 
			 National 13,335 6,757 4,093 13,976

Orthopaedics

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the tariff price for specialist orthopaedic operations.

Simon Burns: Prior to their final publication, the 2011-12 tariffs for orthopaedic operations were shared with clinicians and providers of specialist orthopaedic services to check for any anomalies or perverse clinical incentives.
	In 2011-12 specialist orthopaedic procedures continue to attract a ‘top-up’ payment in addition to the tariff price. This year the top-up is set at 24%.
	Work on the 2012-13 tariff is under way, and as in previous years the draft tariff will be shared with providers of specialist orthopaedic services for comment in the autumn.

Out-patients: Attendance

Phillip Lee: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department collects information on the number of out-patient clinics that are cancelled by hospital consultants within six weeks of their scheduled date.

Simon Burns: The Department does not collect information on cancelled out-patient clinics.

Palliative Care: Finance

Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the NHS spent on palliative care in each year since 2005-06.

Paul Burstow: This information is not collected centrally. The Department has conducted a special exercise to collect information on new investment in end of life care in 2009-10 and 2010-11 and on expenditure on specialist palliative care in 2006-07 and 2010-11. The 2006-07 and 2009-10 data have been published on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/documents/digitalasset/dh_086270.pdf
	and
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_118810
	respectively, and the data for 2010-11 will be published when the exercise is complete.

Private Patients

Steven Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received from patients who pay for private hospital treatment for the purposes of avoiding the risk of acquiring a serious infection in an NHS hospital; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: The Department has identified no representations of this type from patients in the last six months.
	The Government have made clear it is a key priority that the national health service operates a zero tolerance approach to all avoidable health care associated infections. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections are at their lowest ever level since mandatory surveillance was introduced with infections falling by 22% in 2010-11 compared to the previous year. Over the same period, clostridium difficile infections fell by 15%.

Public Health England: Speech Therapy

Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps Public Health England will take to use speech and language therapists to improve educational and employment outcomes.

Anne Milton: Public Health England will hold the up-to-date evidence on which public health interventions work, and how to deploy them effectively, across the range of public health practice. This includes such areas as speech and language therapy, where the Government recognise the significant contribution speech and language therapists can make to addressing costly challenges such as poverty, poor mental health, antisocial behaviour, educational attainment and reablement. The Department will publish a consultation document on a Public Health Workforce Strategy in the autumn. To inform this work, a Public Health Workforce Strategy Working Group, chaired by a regional director of public health has been established. Members of the group include representatives from a range of health and local government organisations, including the Co-Chair of the National Allied Health Professional Advisory Board.

Rural Areas

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether officials of his Department have had recent discussions with the Rural Communities Policy Unit in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Anne Milton: Departmental officials have met with the Rural Communities Policy Unit on several occasions to discuss the forthcoming Rural Statement. The last meeting was on 15 June 2011.

Southern Cross

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration he has given to providing additional resources to the Care Quality Commission to take steps to ensure standards are met in care homes previously owned by Southern Cross.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has considered the provision of additional funding to the Care Quality Commission in respect of the registration of new operators of Southern Cross care homes.

Paul Burstow: I refer the hon. Members to the written ministerial statement I gave on 19 July 2011, Official Report, columns 105-06WS.
	Each year, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) agrees its business plan and financial allocation with the Department. Its financial position is then kept under constant review during the financial year. If the CQC requires additional resources, it will supply a business case which the Department will consider.

Southern Cross

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what process will be followed to ensure that landlords who purchase former Southern Cross care homes are (a) fit to operate the homes and (b) financially viable.

Paul Burstow: Landlords already own the homes, as I outlined to the House on 12 July 2011, Official Report, columns 163-64.
	The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has processes in place to extend registration to include additional care homes, where the provider is already registered subject to meeting the registration requirements.
	New providers will have to apply for registration and be subject to the requirements of the Health and Social Care Act 2008, including assurance of financial viability under paragraph 13 of the CQC (Registration) Regulation 2009.

Southern Cross

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with the Care Quality Commission on the registrations it will be required to undertake following the collapse of Southern Cross.

Paul Burstow: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement I gave on 19 July 2011, Official Report, columns 105-06WS.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Animal Experiments: Dogs

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Animals Scientific Procedures Inspectorate last inspected premises for beagles at Harlan Wyton; and what the outcome was of that inspection.

Lynne Featherstone: The establishment was last inspected by the Animals Scientific Procedures Inspectorate on the 18 April 2011. No issues of non-compliance with the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 or the establishment’s certificate of designation were identified.

Animal Experiments: Scotland

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many animals were used in procedures regulated under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in Scotland in 2010.

Lynne Featherstone: During 2010, in Scotland, there were 579,905 animals used in regulated procedures started under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.

Animal Experiments: Scotland

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many regulated procedures were carried out under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in Scotland in 2010.

Lynne Featherstone: The number of regulated procedures started under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in Scotland in 2010 was 590,826.

Animal Experiments: Scotland

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) mice, (b) rats, (c) guinea pigs, (d) hamsters, (e) rabbits, (f) horses and other equids, (g) sheep, (h) pigs, (i) birds, (j) amphibians, (k) reptiles, (l) fish, (m) cats, (n) dogs, (o) new world primates and (p) old world primates were used in procedures conducted in Scotland and regulated under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in 2010.

Lynne Featherstone: During 2010, in Scotland, there were 323,740 mice, 36,890 rats, 1,091 guinea pigs, 755 hamsters, 1,683 rabbits, 27 horses and other equids, 4,706 sheep, 447 pigs, 12,750 birds, 817 amphibians, 193,543 fish, four cats, 442 dogs, 40 new world primates and 370 old world primates used in regulated procedures started under the 1986 Act. No reptiles were used.

Animal Experiments: Scotland

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of regulated procedures under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, which were conducted in Scotland in 2010, was performed in (a) public health laboratories, (b) universities and medical schools, (c) NHS hospitals, (d) Government Departments, (e) other public bodies, (f) non-profit making organisations and (g) commercial organisations.

Lynne Featherstone: During 2010, in Scotland, the total number of procedures started under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 was 590,826. Of these, 469,481 or 79% were carried out at universities or medical schools, 33,325 or 6% at Government Departments, 46,556 or 8% at other public bodies and 41,464 or 7% at commercial organisations. None were started at public health laboratories, NHS hospitals or non-profit making organisations.

Animal Experiments: Scotland

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of procedures regulated under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, which were carried out in Scotland, was conducted without anaesthesia in 2010.

Lynne Featherstone: There were a total of 590,826 regulated procedures started under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in Scotland in 2010 of which 414,528 (70%) used no form of anaesthesia.

Animal Experiments: Scotland

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) genetically modified animals and (b) animals with a harmful genetic defect were used in regulated procedures conducted in Scotland under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in 2010.

Lynne Featherstone: A total of 579,905 animals were used in regulated procedures started under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in Scotland in 2010, of which 212,811 were genetically modified and 12,752 were animals with a harmful genetic defect.

Animal Experiments: Scotland

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the regulated procedures under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, which were conducted in Scotland in 2010, was carried out for (a) fundamental and applied studies other than toxicology and (b) toxicity tests or other safety and efficacy evaluation.

Lynne Featherstone: During 2010, in Scotland, the number of regulated procedures started for non-toxicological purposes under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 was 543,050 (92%), and the number started for toxicological purposes was 47,776 (8%).

Badgers

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the costs to police authorities of implementing a badger cull; and what advice her Department has received from the Association of Chief Police Officers on this matter.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office is working closely with officials in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Association of Chief Police Officers on this matter in order to produce an estimate of costs to police authorities.

Biometrics

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the UK Borders Agency takes when a facial recognition machine fails to operate.

Damian Green: The UK Border Agency has a service level agreement with the gate supplier and gate servicing and reliability are delivered in line with that contract. In the case of one machine failing to operate, that gate would be closed and an engineer called to repair it; if a bank of gates became inoperable they would be closed and passengers would be processed at the manual control.

Biometrics

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the comparative (a) cost effectiveness and (b) effectiveness of (i) facial recognition equipment and (ii) UK Borders Agency staff at border controls.

Damian Green: The UK Border Agency has completed an evaluation of facial recognition technology and this confirmed that the equipment operates securely and to an acceptable performance level. The technology is already cost effective in ports with high volumes of eligible users. Over 4.5 million transactions have already taken place and forecasts indicate that over 20 million border crossings will have been facilitated using automation by 2013-14.
	Facial recognition gates have been introduced to assist Border Force officers in facilitating legitimate travel.

Biometrics

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many errors in facial recognition equipment operated by her Department have been reported since its introduction.

Damian Green: Since 2008 there have been over 4.5 million transactions. There have been six reported incidents of facial recognition equipment making a false match, four of which were established to be false alarms. On the remaining two occasions the false matches were detected immediately by Border officers and no breach of the border occurred. System changes were put in place to improve the performance of the equipment following these two incidents.

Biometrics

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance is given to staff of her Department on the steps to take in the event of a facial recognition equipment failure at border security control.

Damian Green: Staff are instructed to log a call with the helpdesk, who will assess the severity of the fault and send an engineer if appropriate. If fewer than three gates in a bank of five are available for use, staff will close the bank and direct passengers to the manual control. This fault reporting procedure follows the same process as for other IT equipment used at the Border.

Biometrics

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who within her Department is accountable for the performance of facial recognition machines used by her Department.

Damian Green: The chief executive of the UK Border Agency is accountable for performance within the agency.

Biometrics

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she plans to take to assess the effectiveness of the introduction of facial recognition equipment for border security and integrity; and what timescale she has set for such an assessment.

Damian Green: The UK Border Agency has completed an evaluation of facial recognition and this confirmed that the technology operates securely and to an acceptable performance level. The performance of the technology will be assessed regularly to ensure it continues to operate securely and effectively. Forecasts indicate that over 11 million passengers per year are expected to use automated border crossings by 2013-14.

Public Demonstrations

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department takes to ensure public protests are carried out in a safe and peaceful manner.

James Brokenshire: The policing of protests is an operational matter for the police. The Government are committed both to ensuring that the law facilitates peaceful protests, and that the police have the powers they need to deal with any violence and disorder.

Departmental Redundancy

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much (a) her Department and (b) each non-departmental body for which she is responsible has spent on redundancies since May 2010.

Damian Green: The following table has been provided using Office for National Statistics guidelines for workforce management reporting.
	The changes to the Civil Service Compensation Scheme (CSCS) in December 2010 obliged Departments to offer “voluntary redundancy” on terms equivalent to “voluntary exit” under the compensation scheme before it can issue notice of compulsory redundancy to any member of staff. The costs in the table relate to staff who have accepted compulsory redundancy terms only, as our HR and finance systems record as a separate category those leaving on that basis, but cannot differentiate staff who leave on “voluntary exit” terms and those who have accepted “voluntary redundancy” under the compensation scheme.
	
		
			 Table 1: How much has been spent on redundancies in (a) her Department and (b) each non-departmental body for which she is responsible for since May 2010 
			  Cost (£) 
			 (a) Her Department  
			 Home Office and the Executive Agencies (1)— 
			   
			 (b) Non-departmental bodies  
			 Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) (1)— 
			 Independent Police Complaints Commissioner (IPCC) 989,000 
			 Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) (1)— 
			 National Policing Improvements Agency (NPIA) 421,000 
			 Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) (1)— 
			 Security Industry Authority (SIA) (1)— 
		
	
	
		
			 Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) (1)— 
			 (1 )Not applicable. Notes:1. Extract date 30 June 2011. 2. Figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand pound. Source: Individual finance departments for each area.

Regulation: Guidance

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what process her Department follows for the production of regulatory guidance; and how many officials of her Department were involved in the production of such guidance on the last date for which figures are available.

Damian Green: The code of practice for guidance is set centrally and is published by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills. The Home Office does not keep a central record of the number of officials involved in the production of guidance.

Deportation

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what oversight mechanisms are in place to ensure that enforced removals from the UK are monitored by an independent body.

Damian Green: The UK Border Agency has used private sector escorting companies to undertake enforced removals for nearly 20 years. These companies operate within a clear framework set out in legislation and in a set of operating standards and instructions which are published on the agency's website. The role of escorts is subject to oversight by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons, who undertakes both announced and unannounced inspections. The agency has, over the past few years, introduced a number of measures to ensure the protection of staff and detainees. These include the use of contract monitors at the main airports used for departures, and an Independent Monitoring Board at Heathrow airport.
	We are satisfied that escorts act professionally, ensuring those in their custody are treated with dignity and care. Where detainees complain that the use of force has been excessive, the matter is investigated by the UK Border Agency's Professional Standards Unit. If a complainant is unhappy with the response, they can ask for the issue to be re-examined by the prisons and probation ombudsman, whose role was extended in 2006 to investigate complaints by immigration detainees.

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 12 July 2011, Official Report, columns 275-6W, on entry clearances: overseas students, 
	(1)  how many of the publicly funded further and higher education institutions that contribute to the eight per cent. non-compliance rate were sixth form colleges;
	(2)  what the level of compliance was for independent schools.

Damian Green: holding answer 19 July 2011
	Further analysis of the data used to produce the published reports could be undertaken only at disproportionate cost.

Immigration Controls: Channel Tunnel Railway Line

Gordon Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost was of employing immigration and customs staff at (a) Ebbsfleet International station and (b) Ashford International station in (i) 2009-2010 and (ii) 2010-2011.

Damian Green: Ebbsfleet, Ashford and Stratford International stations are covered on a mobile risk-led basis resourced from St Pancras. St Pancras is specific to Eurostar train operations from Brussels and Paris, and the United Kingdom Border Agency incurred the following pay costs for the years stated.
	(i) 2009-10 £1.3 million; and
	(ii) 2010-11 £1.7 million
	There has been an increase from two mobile teams in 2009-10 to three teams in 2010-11.

Khat

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of trends in the use of khat in the last 10 years.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 11 July 2011
	A question on the use of khat was added to the British Crime Survey in October 2009 to provide estimates on the level of khat use within the general household population. Prior to this no assessment of prevalence was made by the Department.
	First estimates (based on six months data) published in July 2010 show that 0.2% of adults reported using khat in the previous year. As this is the first time the data have been collected, no trend information is available. New estimates for from the 2010-11 BCS will be published end July 2011.
	Source
	Hoare, J. and Moon, D. (2010) ‘Drug Misuse Declared: Findings from the 2009/10 British Crime Survey (England and Wales)’
	http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/drugs-alcohol-research/hosb1310/hosb1310?view=Binary

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Minister of State for Immigration plans to reply to the letter of 23 May 2011 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to David Goodbourne.

Damian Green: I wrote to the right hon. Member on 7 July 2011.

Members: Correspondence

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letters of 4 May and 20 June 2011 from the hon. Member for Basildon and Billericay regarding a constituent, Mr Matthew McDonald.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 14 July 2011
	A reply was sent on 18 July 2011 by the Minister for Policing and Criminal Justice, my right hon. Friend the Member for Arundel and South Downs (Nick Herbert), who apologises for the delay in responding to my hon. Friend.

Members: Correspondence

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter of 30 March 2011 on behalf of the constituent of the hon. Member for Workington, Mr N. Hebert.

James Brokenshire: A response to the letter was sent on 14 July 2011 by the Minister for Policing and Criminal Justice, my right hon. Friend the Member for Arundel and South Downs (Nick Herbert), who apologises for the delay in responding to the hon. Member on this matter.

Members: Correspondence

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letters from the Member of the Scottish Parliament for Banffshire and Buchan Coast of 25 February and 10 May 2011 on the Tier 2 certificate of sponsorship scheme.

Damian Green: A reply to the letter of 25 February was sent to the hon. Member on 22 March 2011. I will arrange for a copy of that response to be sent to her. There is no trace of receipt in the Home Office of the further correspondence dated 10 May 2011.

Members: Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the interim reply to the hon. Member for Walsall North of 27 June 2011, ref M10105.11, when the hon. Member for Walsall North will receive a substantive reply to his letter of 31 May on the Winsor report.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 14 July 2011
	A reply was sent on 18 July 2011 by the Minister for Policing and Criminal Justice, my right hon. Friend the Member for Arundel and South Downs (Nick Herbert), who apologises for the delay in responding to the hon. Member.

Police: Civilians

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many non-uniformed staff in each police authority area have been (a) made redundant, (b) required to reapply for their position and (c) asked to retrain for posts formerly undertaken by uniformed officers in the last 12 months;
	(2)  what the cost of redundancies was in each police authority area in 2010-11; and what estimate she has made of the likely costs in 2011-12;
	(3)  what estimate she has made of the cost of managing changes to contracts of non-uniformed staff in respect of (a) redeployment, (b) retraining, (c) interviewing and (d) redundancy in each police authority area.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 18 July 2011
	The management of policing resources—including the numbers of police staff employed and the associated costs—is a matter for individual chief constables and their police authorities.
	Information on the number of dismissals and voluntary resignations of police staff (excluding police community support officers and designated officers) by police force area as at 31 March 2010 is set out in the table. Compulsory redundancies are contained within dismissals and voluntary redundancies are contained within voluntary resignations. The Home Office does not collect figures specifically for the number of non-uniformed staff in each police authority area that are required to reapply for their position and have been asked to retrain for posts formerly undertaken by uniformed officers.
	Information on the costs of managing changes to contracts for non-uniformed staff, or redundancy costs is not collected centrally. Redundancy (and other) costs are included within the CIPFA Police Service Statistics publication, available via
	www.cipfastats.net
	although police forces do not report this information separately from some other areas of expenditure. No estimate of any future costs of redundancies in each police authority area has been made centrally, since this is a matter for individual chief constables and their police authorities.
	
		
			 N umber of dismissals and voluntary resignations of police staff (excluding police community support officers and designated officers), by police force area, as at 31 March 2010 (1) 
			  Police staff 
			  Dismissals Voluntary resignations 
			 Avon and Somerset 7 93 
			 Bedfordshire 12 34 
			 Cambridgeshire 6 90 
			 Cheshire 5 74 
			 Cleveland 3 29 
			 Cumbria 21 19 
			 Derbyshire 6 83 
			 Devon and Cornwall 6 71 
			 Dorset 0 38 
			 Durham 4 36 
			 Dyfed-Powys 1 28 
			 Essex 14 112 
			 Gloucestershire 2 22 
			 Greater Manchester 7 169 
			 Gwent 1 31 
			 Hampshire 7 113 
			 Hertfordshire 28 65 
			 Humberside 8 51 
			 Kent 12 146 
			 Lancashire 18 55 
			 Leicestershire 8 79 
			 Lincolnshire 2 54 
			 London, City of 0 16 
			 Merseyside 5 72 
			 Metropolitan Police 38 309 
			 Norfolk 32 49 
			 Northamptonshire 12 67 
			 Northumbria 4 96 
			 North Wales 5 13 
			 North Yorkshire 14 81 
			 Nottinghamshire 15 59 
			 South Wales 4 55 
		
	
	
		
			 South Yorkshire 1 54 
			 Staffordshire 49 32 
			 Suffolk 4 41 
			 Surrey 56 158 
			 Sussex 2 127 
			 Thames Valley 26 179 
			 Warwickshire 0 11 
			 West Mercia 6 91 
			 West Midlands 6 133 
			 West Yorkshire 23 96 
			 Wiltshire 3 60 
			 Total 478 3,288 
			 (1) This table contains full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Because of rounding, there may be an apparent discrepancy between totals and the sums of the constituent items.

Police: Health

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will introduce an annual basic fitness test for police officers.

James Brokenshire: Tom Winsor has indicated he will be looking at fitness testing for police officers in part 2 of his Independent Review of Police Officer and Staff Remuneration and Conditions. The Secretary of State for the Home Department, will consider his recommendation when he presents this in January 2012.

Police: Wales

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers there were in each police authority in Wales in each of the last five years; and what the planned complement was in each authority in each of those years.

James Brokenshire: The latest available information in the following table shows police officer strength in Wales, by police force area, 2006 to 2010, as at 31 March (full-time equivalents). The planned complement in each authority is a matter for individual police forces and authorities.
	
		
			 Police officer strength in Wales, by police force area, 2006 - 10 as at 31 March (full-time equivalents ()1) 
			 Wales 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 
			 Dyfed-Powys 1,194 1,190 1,194 1,197 1,195 
			 Gwent 1,467 1,493 1,487 1,438 1,437 
			 North Wales 1,634 1,608 1,579 1,586 1,590 
			 South Wales 3,303 3,336 3,244 3,146 3,148 
			 Wales 7,599 7,627 7,503 7,367 7,369 
			 (1) The table contains full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Because of rounding, there may be an apparent discrepancy between totals and the sums of the constituent items.

Private Detectives: Regulation

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures govern the supervision and regulation of the private investigation industry.

Lynne Featherstone: There is no current licensing regime for private investigators. The Private Security Industry Act 2001 contains provisions for the regulation by the Security Industry Authority (SIA) of individuals conducting private investigations. We are currently considering whether these provisions should be brought into force.
	The Government announced last October that there will be a phased transition by the end of 2013 from the SIA to a new independent regulatory regime for the private security industry, which will place a greater focus on licensing businesses. Any regulation of private investigators which is brought into force before then will be included in the transition to the new regime.

Private Investigators: Licensing

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what licensing regime applies to private investigators.

Lynne Featherstone: holding answer 14 July 2011
	There is no current licensing regime for private investigators. The Private Security Industry Act 2001 contains provisions for the regulation by the Security Industry Authority (SIA) of individuals conducting private investigations. We are currently considering whether these provisions should be brought into force.
	The Government announced last October that there will be a phased transition by the end of 2013 from the SIA to a new independent regulatory regime for the private security industry, which will place a greater focus on licensing businesses. Any regulation of private investigators which is brought into force before then will be included in the transition to the new regime.

Theft: Metals

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to reduce the incidence of scrap metal theft.

James Brokenshire: The Government are concerned at the extent of metal theft and the serious impact it can have on the national infrastructure and on local communities. The Home Office is working closely with the police (through the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) Metal Theft Working Group) to tackle this criminality and to reduce the stolen goods market that drives it. We are currently exploring what other action can be taken to reduce metal theft.

UK Border Agency: Data Protection

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints the UK Border Agency has received on breaches of data protection from (a) UK residents, (b) persons held in detention and (c) overseas applicants for visas since its inception.

Damian Green: The Agency currently receives approximately 25,000 subject access requests per year for personal information under section 7 of the Data Protection Act 1998.
	Since 2009, the Agency has received 166 complaints made to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) relating to the Data Protection Act. These complaints have been broken down into years;
	2009: 53
	2010: 91
	2011: 22
	The ICO recently published the total number of breaches of the Data Protection Act referred to them over the last 12 months. The Agency had 10 breaches, all of which related to subject access requests. The ICO’s website can be accessed at:
	http://www.ico.gov.uk/about_us/how_we_comply/disclosure_log/201107.aspx

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Apprentices

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  how many people started an apprenticeship in the first nine months of academic year (a) 2011-12 and (b) 2010-11 in each parliamentary constituency in England;
	(2)  how many people aged (a) 16 to 18, (b) 19 to 24 and (c) 25 years and over started an apprenticeship in academic year (i) 2011-12 and (ii) 2011-12 in each constituency in England.

John Hayes: holding answer 18 July 2011
	I have made provisional data showing apprenticeship starts by parliamentary constituency and age for the first nine months of the 2010/11 academic year available in the Libraries of the House. Data for 2010/11 are the latest year for which provisional data are available.
	Information on the number of apprenticeship starts by parliamentary constituency is published in a quarterly statistical first release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 23 June 2011:
	http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_current

Apprentices

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many people started an apprenticeship in each parliamentary constituency in England in the latest year for which figures are available.

John Hayes: holding answer 18 July 2011
	I have made final full year data showing apprenticeship starts by parliamentary constituency for 2009/10 available in the Libraries of the House.
	Information on the number of apprenticeship starts by parliamentary constituency is published in a quarterly statistical first release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 23 June 2011:
	http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_current

Apprentices

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the factors contributing to the difference in the number of (a) additional 25+ apprenticeship starts and (b) 16-18 and 19-24 apprenticeship starts in the first three quarters of 2010-11.

John Hayes: holding answer 19 July 2011
	Apprenticeships are demand led; we do not plan our apprenticeships places or starts by age group. There are a number of factors that contribute to the number of apprenticeship starts including the current climate in the economy, the demand made from employers to employ apprentices, and the age and employment background of the various demographic groups applying for Apprenticeships places.
	In previous years there was a limit placed on the number of apprenticeship places for those aged 25 and above. In the current academic year, 2010/11, this limit has been removed. As a result, demand from this large cohort has been strong, leading to an increase in the number of apprentices aged over 25 above overall growth across the programme. The increase in starts at 16-18 is in line with the number expected to implement the Government's strategy to raise the participation age(1).
	Information on the number of apprenticeship starts is published in a quarterly statistical first release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 23 June 2011:
	http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_current
	(1) For the first nine months of 2010/11 there were 326,700 apprenticeship starts made up of:
	Under 19: 102,900 (31.5%)
	19-24: 102,800 (31.5%)
	25+: 121,000 (37.0 %).
	Source
	Individualised Learner Record.

Apprentices: Females

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to encourage more women and girls to take up apprenticeships in science, technology, engineering and mathematics sectors.

John Hayes: The National Apprenticeship Service is working with the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) and other key stakeholders to develop a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) strategy encouraging the development and take-up of STEM apprenticeships.
	One of the aims of this strategy is to articulate and raise awareness of career opportunities that are available to all suitable candidates.
	The Department also funds a number of programmes which encourage people from a diverse range of backgrounds, including women and girls, to understand the excitement and importance of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects in their lives, including STEMNET and its 27,000 strong cohort of STEM ambassadors.

Departmental Advertising

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has considered advertising his Department's business growth initiatives on documentation issued by HM Revenue and Customs.

Mark Prisk: The Government published their Plan for Growth, alongside Budget 2011, which can be found at:
	www.bis.gov.uk/growth
	and are focused on implementation of the commitments.
	Much of Government, including HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), increasingly provides information and services online, and less through more costly paper-based communication. Communication of Government's activity to support growth is being undertaken through a range of approaches, including: engaging directly with businesses and indirectly, using business representative bodies; through websites including www.bis.Gov.uk/growth; through Government's delivery partners such as HMRC; and through press releases, for example of open consultations on proposed legislation.

Apprentices

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether his Department has a policy on requirements for the provision of (a) apprenticeships and (b) other training by (i) his Department's prime contractors and (ii) suppliers in the supply chain of such contractors.

John Hayes: The policy of the Department is to consider, on a case-by-case basis, the inclusion of apprenticeships or other training requirements where it is appropriate and relevant to the contract and consistent with value for money. The Department is also establishing a Ministerial Apprenticeships Champions Group to promote the apprenticeships agenda across Government, including opportunities to work with prime contractors and suppliers in the supply chain to support training and apprenticeships.

Apprentices

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many apprenticeships have been created directly by contracts with his Department in each of the last three years.

John Hayes: The Department does not hold information on the number of apprenticeships created directly through contracts in each of the past three years.

Departmental Offices

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 13 July 2011, Official Report, column 404W, on departmental offices, what the location is of each of his Department's local offices; and what the location is of each team in areas spanning more than one administrative region.

Mark Prisk: holding answer 19 July 2011
	BIS local teams are located in the following places:
	East Midlands—Nottingham
	London and East—Cambridge and London
	North West—Manchester
	South Central and West—Guildford, Plymouth and Bristol
	West Midlands—Birmingham
	Yorkshire Humber and North East—Leeds (YH) and Gateshead (NE)
	The teams are all based in BIS or BIS Agency premises. London and East, South Central and West and Yorkshire Humber and North East all have more than one location, in order to provide effective coverage.

Further Education: Pay

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether his Department has provided guidance to further education colleges on pay restraint for (a) employees and (b) executives.

John Hayes: holding answer 13 July 2011
	The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and I wrote to vice chancellors and principals on 26 May last year concerning the Government's plans to rebuild the economy and build sustainable growth. In this letter we said:
	“We are expecting BIS and all its Non Departmental Public Body (NDPB) and Agency partner organisations to apply restraint to all aspects of pay and bonuses with a lead being given by senior staff”.
	The full letter is available on the BIS website:
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/corporate/docs/c/cable-and-willetts-to-vice-chancellors-and-principals.pdf
	However, the Government are not the employer of FE staff and cannot intervene in decisions made by colleges with respect to them. Colleges are self-governing, independent institutions and, as such, they are responsible for their own terms and conditions, including pay and workforce modelling. It is therefore a matter for each FE college principal and governing body to decide how best to maintain the delivery of high-quality provision to their learners at a time of budgetary pressure.

High Street Review

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  on what dates meetings with (a) micro businesses, (b) small businesses and (c) medium-sized businesses (i) have taken and (ii) are due to take place as part of the independent review of the future of the high street;
	(2)  what the name is of each (a) firm, (b) local authority representative, (c) third sector organisation and (d) other stakeholder consulted as part of the independent review of the future of the high street;
	(3)  how many visits, meetings, engagements and other events as part of the independent review of the future of the high street have (a) taken place and (b) been arranged; what the (i) date and (ii) venue of each such event was or is; who was or has been invited to each such event; and how many such events Mary Portas (A) has attended and (B) plans to attend.

Edward Davey: This is an independent review. It is for Mary Portas to determine the extent and nature of her engagement with stakeholders. Last month Mary Portas visited the town centres of Rugby and Sparkbrook as part of a programme of stakeholder engagement she will undertake across England as part of her review.

Motor Vehicles: Manufacturing Industries

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will assess the prospects for the UK automotive industry; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Prisk: holding answer 19 July 2011
	We have no plans to make a formal assessment of the viability of the UK automotive industry. We work closely with the automotive industry, for example the Automotive Council, to ensure we are aware of the key issues for the industry.

Overseas Trade: Sudan

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had with his US counterparts on trade restrictions in Sudan.

Mark Prisk: I have had no discussions with my US counterparts regarding trade restrictions in Sudan.

Regional Development Agencies: Finance

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will list for each regional development agency (RDA), all previously approved projects that have since been halted or cancelled as a result of the Government's decision to end RDA contributions to match funding for bids to the European Regional Development Fund.

Mark Prisk: holding answer 11 July 2011
	The Department only holds information on Regional Development Agency projects over £10 million for which central Government approval was required. None of these projects have been halted or cancelled.

Retail Trade: Children

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what progress he has made in developing a retail code of practice on retailing to children; what recent discussions he has had with the British Retail Consortium on this issue; what the outcome of these discussions was; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Prisk: The report to Government from Reg Bailey, ‘Letting Children be Children’, on the sexualisation and commercialisation of childhood published on 6 June 2011, recommended that retailers, alongside their trade associations, should develop and comply with a voluntary code of good practice for all aspects of retailing to children and that the British Retail Consortium (BRC) should continue its work in this area as a matter of urgency and encourage non-BRC members to sign up to its code.
	The Government welcome the report, which is consistent with their principles of better regulation that encourage voluntary action by business as an alternative to Government intervention. The BRC has already published a new set of guidelines on the responsible retailing of children's clothes. We consider this to be an excellent example of how industry can respond positively to public feeling.
	BIS Ministers have had no recent discussion with the BRC on this issue. The Government will, however, be proactive in monitoring progress by businesses and industry to implement the Bailey report recommendations, commencing with a roundtable on 27 June 2011, chaired by the Minister of State, Department for Education, my hon. Friend the Member for Brent Central (Sarah Teather), who has responsibility for children and families.

Skills Funding Agency

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what savings he expects to achieve from the planned reduction in the Skills Funding Agency's budget.

John Hayes: holding answer 19 July 2011
	The information is as follows.
	Programme budget
	The Skills Funding Agency's programme budget is planned to reduce from £3,894 million in 2010-11 to £3,026 million by the end of the spending review period (2014-15) resulting in an expected annual saving by the end of the spending review period of £868 million (22.3% of baseline budget), and total planned programme savings over the four-year spending review period of £1,860 million.
	Administration budget
	The Skills Funding Agency's administration budget is planned to reduce from £126 million in 2010-11 to £85 million by the end of the spending review period (2014-15) resulting in an expected annual saving by the end of the spending review period of £41 million (33% of baseline budget), and total planned administration budget saving over the four-year spending review period is £120 million.

Thameslink Railway Line: Rolling Stock

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what meetings took place between Ministers in his Department and Ministers in the Department for Transport to discuss the bids for the Thameslink Rolling Stock Project between May 2010 and June 2011.

Edward Davey: Ministers are not allowed to discuss the details of individual bids for contracts before they are awarded. The Invitation to Tender produced in 2008 specified the evaluation criteria by which bids for the Thameslink contract would be judged.
	The Secretaries of State for Transport and for Business, Innovation and Skills have jointly written to the Prime Minister outlining our plan for the Growth Review to fully explore the opportunity to take a more strategic approach to major public procurement.

Vocational Training: Injuries

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many (a) serious injuries and (b) fatalities of learners placed on courses or apprenticeships were reported by the Skills Funding Agency in each year since 2000.

John Hayes: holding answer 19 July 2011
	The number of serious injuries and fatalities of learners placed on courses or apprenticeships reported to the Skills Funding Agency is as follows:
	
		
			 April to March Fatalities Reportable injuries 
			 2002-03 4 (1)— 
			 2003-04 2 (1)— 
			 2004-05 2 583 
			 2005-06 1 755 
			 2006-07 2 611 
			 2007-08 2 636 
			 2008-09 0 581 
			 2009-10 0 (2)— 
			 2010-11 1 (2)— 
			 (1 )Complete data is not available. (2 )The information is not available within the timeframe we have been given

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Artists

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many official war artists have been attached to military units based in Afghanistan since 2003.

Nick Harvey: holding answer 18 July 2011
	The information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Attachments of war artists to units deploying to Afghanistan are approved alongside media and similar personnel and it is not possible to differentiate them in our records.

Armed Forces: Casualties

Steven Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received on arrangements for the repatriation of deceased servicemen and women via Brize Norton; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Robathan: The Ministry of Defence has received in the region of 200 pieces of correspondence from members of the public and Parliament about the arrangements for the repatriation of fallen service personnel.
	The Secretary of State for Defence announced on 16 March 2011, Official Report, column 11WS, that repatriation ceremonies would move to RAF Brize Norton and in anticipation of this, the RAF has taken great care in planning and building the facilities at the base. A new £3 million repatriation facility has been deliberately sited on the south side of the airfield, to give families the best possible view of the aircraft on approach and landing while bringing their loved ones home. I have visited RAF Brize Norton to assure myself that the plans are appropriate and fitting for the families, who remain our priority. A gate near to the Repatriation Centre is also being refurbished and renamed as 'Britannia Gate' and is to be dedicated for the use of repatriating fallen service personnel.
	Oxfordshire county council, in determining the route to be taken from the base with Thames Valley police, has also carefully considered the needs of the families and members of the public and is constructing a memorial garden along Norton Way, as well as providing parking facilities. These new arrangements will give members of the public the opportunity to pay their own personal tribute as they have done in the past.

Cyprus: Military Bases

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department receives any financial contributions from the United States for use of the sovereign bases in Cyprus.

Nick Harvey: holding answer 19 July 2011
	A United States Air Force detachment is based at RAF Akrotiri. They are charged for the use of buildings and the utilities they consume. Other US forces who use the sovereign base areas for one-off purposes are charged on a case by case basis.

Defence: Manpower

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has made an assessment of the impact of the Strategic Defence and Security Review on the number of people employed in the defence industry.

Peter Luff: The Ministry of Defence has not made any overall assessment of the effects that the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) will have on the number of people employed in the defence industry in the United Kingdom. The overall impact of the SDSR on the defence industry is not yet clear, as many changes, such as re-negotiation of several major contracts, is still under way.

Defence: Procurement

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the monetary value was of urgent operational requirements made by each of the armed forces in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how much was spent on urgent operational requirements for (a) fuel, (b) munitions, (c) equipment, (d) upgrades, (e) maintenance and (f) transport in each of the last five years.

Peter Luff: The urgent operational requirement (UOR) process is specific to equipment procurement programmes and does not contribute toward, for example, expenditure on fuel or maintenance. The total approved funding through the UOR process in each of the last five financial years (FY) was £790 million for FY 2006-07, £1,550 million for FY 2007-08, £1,400 million for FY 2008-09, £840 million for FY 2009-10 and £1,130 million for FY 2010-11. Expenditure is not recorded separately by armed service and certain programmes may provide equipment for more than one.

Departmental Procurement

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the annual value is of his Department's current contracts in each sector in which contracts are held.

Peter Luff: Table 1.11 ‘Estimated Defence Expenditure Outturn in UK by Industry Group’ in ‘UK Defence Statistics’ estimates the amount of money the Ministry of Defence (MOD) spends directly with the UK industry broken down by industrial group.
	The following table taken from Table 1.11 shows the latest available statistics, for 2008-09.
	
		
			 £million (ex. VAT) 
			   2008-09 
			 Total  18,590 
			    
			 A, B Agriculture, Fishing and Mining — 
			    
			 C Manufacturing, excluding those industries itemised below 2,390 
			  Weapons  Ammunition 1,030 
			  Data Processing Equipment 100 
			  Other Electrical Engineering 220 
			  Electronics 920 
			  Precision Instruments 540 
			  Motor Vehicles  Parts 490 
			  Shipbuilding  Repairing 1,250 
			  Aircraft  Spacecraft 2,480 
			    
			 D, E Electricity, Gas  Water 340 
			    
			 F Construction 1,680 
			    
			 G Wholesale, Retail  Repair of Motor Vehicles 330 
			    
			 H ,I, J Hotels  Restaurants 160 
			  Transport via Railways 90 
			  Other Land Transport (incl. via pipelines) 60 
			  Water, Air and Auxiliary/freight supply transportation 600 
			  Post  Courier Services 10 
			  Telecommunications 190 
			    
			 K, L, M, N, 0 Financial Services, Business Activities, Education, Health,  Other  
			    
			 P, Q, R, S, T Service Activities excluding those industries itemised as follows(1, 2) 2,490 
			  Real Estate  Renting 2,030 
			  Computer Services 1,180 
			 (1 )Includes MOD payments to AWE Management Ltd, who manage the Atomic Weapons Establishment on behalf of the MOD under a Government-owned/contractor-operated arrangement. (2 )The quality of data available for the service industries is insufficient to identify these SICs separately. 
		
	
	UK Defence Statistics 2011 will be published in September 2011 and will contain the figures for 2009-10.

Departmental Responsibilities

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions a request for a meeting by an hon. Member of each political party was refused by (a) a Minister in his Department directly and (b) his Department on behalf of a Minister in November 2010.

Liam Fox: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 13 July 2011, Official Report, column 367W.

Departmental Travel

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was spent on (a) rail, (b) road and (c) air travel by staff of the Met Office in the last 12 months.

Andrew Robathan: Expenditure incurred by Met Office staff on travel in the last 12 months, covering the period 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2011 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Expenditure i ncurred between 1 July 2010 to  30 June 2011 
			 Travel by: Spend (£) 
			 Rail 476,982 
			 Road 725,167 
			 Air 585,517

Harrier Aircraft

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Harrier aircraft had the capability to carry (a) Brimstone and (b) Storm Shadow missiles on 12 May 2011.

Nick Harvey: holding answer 18 July 2011
	The Harrier aircraft was withdrawn from service on 15 December 2010. Prior to its withdrawal, it had an operational emergency clearance to operate Baseline Brimstone. In order for the Harrier to use Dual Mode Seeker Brimstone, we would have had to extend the provision for the weapon and conduct a full trials programme on Harrier. Although capable of carrying Storm Shadow, Harrier was not cleared to do so when it was withdrawn from service.

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his latest estimate is of the cost to his Department of Joint Strike Fighter per aircraft; and when he expects the aircraft to be delivered.

Peter Luff: The cost of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) will be known at its main investment decision point. Publishing any details prior to this point would prejudice the commercial interests of MOD. The UK's first JSF is due to be delivered in 2012 to allow the UK to train pilots prior to operational test.

Libya: Armed Conflict

Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many service personnel have been operating in the (a) landmass, (b) airspace and (c) territorial waters of Libya on each day since 18 March 2011;
	(2)  how many service personnel of each rank in each armed service have been eligible to receive the operational allowance for taking part in operations within the (a) landmass, (b) airspace and (c) territorial waters of Libya since 18 March 2011.

Nick Harvey: holding answer 19 July 2011
	I am withholding the information as its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.

Libya: Armed Conflict

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel at each rank in each service have been operating within the landmass, airspace and territorial waters of Libya consistent with eligibility for the operational allowance since 18 March 2011; and how many are operating within that space at present.

Nick Harvey: holding answer 19 July 2011
	The breakdown of service personnel eligible for the Ellamy operational allowance since 18 March is not held in the format requested. The breakdown by individual service is being withheld as its release would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed services. The tri-service breakdown by rank as at 15 July 2011 is provided in the following table:
	
		
			  Tri-service equivalent ranks Total 
			 Officers   
			 OF4 Commander / Lieutenant Colonel / Wing Commander 4 
			 OF3 Lieutenant Commander / Major / Squadron Leader 8 
			 OF2 Lieutenant / Captain / Flight Lieutenant 33 
			    
			 Other ranks   
			 OR7 Chief Petty Officer / Staff Sergeant / Flight Sergeant / Chief Technician 1 
			 OR6 Petty Officer /Sergeant / Sergeant 2 
			 OR4 Leading Rate / Corporal / Corporal 1 
			 OR2 Able Seaman 1st Class / Private (Classes 1-3) / Junior Technician / Senior Aircraftman 3 
		
	
	The numbers can vary, for example, as naval units move into and out of Libyan territorial waters.

Libya: Armed Conflict

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost has been of extending eligibility for the operational allowance to service personnel operating within the landmass, airspace and territorial waters of Libya.

Nick Harvey: holding answer 19 July 2011
	It will not be possible to answer this question definitively until after the operation is complete as the numbers of personnel involved in Operation Ellamy may vary considerably day to day. The extension of the operational allowance (OA) to personnel on Operation Ellamy, based on the OA rate of £29.02 per day, is estimated to cost in the region of £90,000 per month per hundred qualifying personnel.

Libya: Armed Conflict

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel have participated in Operation Ellamy since 18 March 2011; and how many are presently participating in the operation.

Nick Harvey: holding answer 19 July 2011
	Information on the number of service personnel who have participated in Operation Ellamy since 18 March 2011 is not readily accessible from our systems. The number of service personnel deployed overseas in support of Operation Ellamy at 0600hrs on 18 July 2001 was 2,071.

Ministerial Meetings

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what (a) meetings and (b) other engagements (i) Ministers and (ii) special advisers in his Department attended which were also attended by (A) representatives, (B) journalists and (C) other employees of (1) News International and its subsidiary organisations including newspapers, (2) News Corporation and its subsidiary organisations and (3) BSkyB since May 2010;
	(2)  what (a) meetings and (b) other engagements (i) Ministers and (ii) special advisers in his Department attended which were also attended by Mr Andrew Coulson (A) between 12 May 2010 and 21 January 2011 and (B) since 21 January 2011.

Liam Fox: holding answer 14 July 2011
	As has been the practice of previous Administrations information relating to internal meetings, discussions and advice is not normally disclosed.
	I refer the hon. Member to the Statement made by the Prime Minister on 13 July 2011, Official Report, columns 313-4.

Piracy

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his French and Italian counterparts on the deployment of military personnel on commercial shipping transiting through the Horn of Africa; and whether he has any plans to deploy British military personnel on British commercial shipping.

Nick Harvey: The Secretary of State for Defence holds regular discussions with his French and Italian counterparts on a number of Defence issues, including counter-piracy. No specific discussions have taken place on the topic of military vessel protection detachments. We do not intend routinely to deploy British military personnel on British commercial shipping.

Radioactive Waste

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons his Department project increases in aerial and liquid discharges of tritium from the defence sector in the UK Strategy for Radioactive Discharges.

Peter Luff: I will write to the hon. Member.
	Substantive answer from Peter Luff to Paul Flynn:
	In my answer of 22 March (Official Report, column 947W), I undertook to write to you to respond to your Parliamentary Question asking for the reasons for projected increases in aerial and liquid discharges of tritium from the defence sector in the UK Strategy for Radioactive Discharges. I am very sorry for the delay in providing you with a substantive response; the effort to research the answer to your question proved to be very time consuming.
	Aerial tritium discharges result almost entirely from the nuclear weapons programme. The predictions for 2006 onwards were based on empirical information provided by the Atomic Weapons Establishment to the Environment Agency (EA) in support of an application for a new authorisation for the disposal of radioactive waste. These predicted figures included an allowance for operational headroom over the maximum reported discharge in the previous five years of approximately 1-5 times, hence the apparent rise in future discharge figures. Even at these levels, the discharges will be significantly lower than EA limits and actual discharge levels are expected to be considerably lower.
	Liquid tritium discharges arise from the nuclear weapons and nuclear propulsion programmes, as well as some historic contamination. In all cases, liquid discharge . projections are based on the minimum recordable level of tritium in analysed samples so the values given are the maximum that could reasonably be expected. Again, the actual discharge levels are likely to be significantly less.
	I hope this response provides the explanation that you sought.

Sri Lanka

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what meetings he had in an official capacity during his visit to Sri Lanka in July 2011.

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he met the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister during his visit to Sri Lanka.

Liam Fox: holding answer 18 July 2011
	I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave on 19 July 2011, Official Report, column 869W, to the right hon. Member for East Renfrewshire (Mr Murphy).

Sri Lanka

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he consulted ministerial colleagues in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office prior to his visit to Sri Lanka in July 2011.

Liam Fox: holding answer 18 July 2011
	The Ministry of Defence and Foreign and Commonwealth Office closely cooperate on international policy development and engagement. Given our close interest in Sri Lanka, I and the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for North East Bedfordshire (Alistair Burt) consulted well in advance of my departure.

Sri Lanka

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he promoted British foreign policy objectives during his recent visit to Sri Lanka.

Liam Fox: The United Kingdom wants to see lasting peace and security in Sri Lanka. It remains our view that for sustainable peace and economic growth Sri Lanka requires political reconciliation between all communities; accountability for human rights allegations; and the respect for democracy, human rights and the rule of law. I was able to build on recent engagements, including the visit in February of the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for North East Bedfordshire (Alistair Burt).

Sri Lanka: War Crimes

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he had discussions in an official capacity on (a) defence industry sales and (b) war crimes allegations concerning the Sri Lankan army during his visit to Sri Lanka in July 2011.

Liam Fox: holding answer 18 July 2011
	The United Kingdom has consistently called for an independent and credible investigation to address allegations of war crimes committed by both sides during in the conflict. During my visit I emphasised that the Sri Lankan Government should engage constructively with the UN Panel report's recommendations, and through their own Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Committee initiate credible action to address the concerns including those highlighted by the UN. Defence exports were not a topic of discussion during the visit.

United Kingdom Hydrographic Office

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the benefit arrangements are of the non-executive directors of the (a) Met Office and (b) Hydrographic Office.

Andrew Robathan: The Met Office and the Hydrographic Office pay their non-executive directors an annual remuneration and reimburse their non-executive directors all reasonable expenses properly and necessarily incurred in their appointment.
	Details of the remuneration and benefits for non-executive directors are disclosed in the annual report and accounts of both trading funds. Copies are placed in the Library of the House each year.

United Kingdom Hydrographic Office

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was spent on air travel by class of travel by staff at the Hydrographic Office in the last 12 months.

Andrew Robathan: Expenditure incurred by United Kingdom Hydrographic Office employees on air travel by class in the last 12 months covering the period 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2011 is shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Air travel by class: Spend (£) 
			 Economy 262,657 
			 Business 464,689 
			 Premium Economy 43,382 
			 Total (1)770,728 
			 (1) All spend include VAT as provided by the Ministry of Defence's Central Booking Service, Hogg Robinson Group.

United Kingdom Hydrographic Office

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff at the (a) Met Office and (b) Hydrographic Office are entitled to use official cars.

Andrew Robathan: The Met Office do not operate official cars; their staff share pooled self-drive service vehicles for business travel instead. Nine staff at the Hydrographic Office are eligible to use their single official car.
	Eligibility for a staff car is currently dependent upon the nature of the duties of an appointment, and it is the responsibility of individual trading funds to identify and justify which appointments have such eligibility in accordance with central Ministry of Defence policy.
	We are reviewing departmental policy on the provision of staff cars (including in our Trading Funds), taking account of the need to demonstrate value for money, provide maximum flexibility and meet our sustainable development commitments.
	Staff cars are an extension of the office and give our most senior staff a more private space to work in than public transport, so they can make best use of the time they spend travelling, with appropriate security.

United Kingdom Hydrographic Office

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was spent on hotel accommodation for staff of the (a) Met Office and (b) Hydrographic Office in the last 12 months.

Andrew Robathan: Met Office spend on hotel accommodation cannot be identified separately from total spend on subsistence.
	The UK Hydrographic Office spent £284,243 on hotel accommodation for employees in the period 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2011.

United Kingdom Hydrographic Office

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was spent on (a) rail, (b) road and (c) air travel by staff of the Hydrographic Office in the last 12 months.

Andrew Robathan: holding answer 18 July 2011
	Expenditure incurred by United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) employees on travel in the last 12 months, covering the period 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2011, is as follows:
	
		
			 Travel by: Spend (£) 
			 Rail (1)36,165 
			 Road 65,413 
			 Air (2)770,728 
			 (1 )This covers the period from 1 July 2010 to 31 March 2011. (2) Air travel spend includes VAT as provided by the Ministry of Defence's central booking service, Hogg Robinson Group. 
		
	
	While the UKHO encourages its international partners to visit Taunton, it is often necessary for employees to travel to ensure the appropriate level of international engagement. All such travel and accommodation costs are closely scrutinised internally to ensure that it is necessary and satisfies a clear business critical need. Travel is funded from within the UKHO's operating costs. All travel is at standard class except for long haul flights over four hours. We have recently invested in additional video conferencing facilities which will be used as an alternative to travel wherever possible.